v (1)等(stay without doing anything until sb comes or sth happens)[I，I+prep(for)，I+to-inf]：I'm busy now，and tell her she has to～. 我現(xiàn)在很忙， 告訴她得等一等。How long have you been～ing? 你等了多久了?～long/all day 等了很久/一整天;～(for) a minute/a second 等一小會兒;～(for) a moment/a while 等一會兒;～for a train/a bus/a person 等火車/汽車/人;～for a reply/the further instructions/the turning of the tide 等待答復/進一步的指示/形勢的轉(zhuǎn)變;～for sb's answer/sb's explanation/sb's arrival 等待某人的回答/解釋/到達;Time and tide～for no man.(prov)歲月不等人?！玣or a dead man's shoes (fig) 等某人死后接替其工作或繼承其財產(chǎn);What are you～ing for?(infml)你們不干還等什么呢?～to begin the seminar/hear the final decision/see the final score 等候研討會的開始/聽最后的決定/看最后的比分;I can't～to tell him the good news. 我迫不及待地要告訴他這個好消息?！玣or the right person to come/the dinner to be served/the rain to stop 等候要見的人到來/擺上晚餐/雨停下來;
?(2)等待(候)，期待(wait and watch for sth)[T+n]：～one's turn to book the ticket 等輪到自己訂票;They are～ing their chance to get the revenge/their opportunity for another attempt. 他們等待時機進行報復/機會再作嘗試?！玱ne's convenience 等待某人方便之時;～the signal 期待著發(fā)出的信號;
?(3)推遲(be delayed or postponed)[I]：The work/business/discussion/trip can～. 這項工作/這件事情/這次討論/這次旅行可以放一放。We can hardly/just can't～. 我們不能再耽擱了。This news cannot～until tomorrow. 這條消息不能等到明天再發(fā)布。This matter/business can～until next week; it's not urgent. 這件事情并不急，可以拖延到下周。My vacation will have to～. 我的休假得推遲。
?(4)延緩開飯(put off a meal)[T+n，D+n+prep(for)]：～lunch/supper for sb 等候某人推遲開午飯/晚飯;We don't have to～dinner for Dad since he is always late from work. 我們不必等爸爸回來再吃飯， 因為他總是很晚才下班。
?(5)車在路邊暫時停留(stop a vehicle at the roadside)[I]：No～ing! 禁止停車!
?(6)就緒，準備好了(be ready)[I][常用prog]：The tea is～ing，and don't let it get cold. 茶已沏好，不要讓它涼了。The shoes/slippers are～ing by the bed. 鞋/拖鞋已準備好放在床邊了。The dinner is～ing for you. 飯給您準備好了。The agreement is～ing for your signature. 協(xié)議就等您簽字。
?keep sb waiting 讓某人等候： Sorry to have kept you～ing. 抱歉，讓您久等了。
?you (just) wait 你等著瞧：You just～and I will take my revenge. 你等著瞧吧， 我要報復的。
?wait about/around (v adv)在某處等著(vi)：She made me～about/around in the corridor for a long time before the interview. 她讓我在走廊里等了很久才接見我。
?wait at (AmE on) table 伺候進餐：The wait-er is～ing at/on table. 侍者正在伺候進餐。
?wait behind(v adv)等他人走后留下來 (vi)：After the meeting，I～ed behind to speak to the manager. 會后我留下與經(jīng)理談了談。
?wait for the cat to jump 觀望事情的發(fā)展(infml)：We won't take any further steps and just～for the cat to jump. 我們將不采取進一步的行動，等待形勢明了再作決定。
?wait for it 等待時機(infml)：We just～for it and see what we can do about it. 我們要等待時機，看看我們能做些什么。
?wait in (v adv)在家中等候(vi)：We～ed in all the day but the guests did not show up. 我們在家中等了一天，但是客人沒來。
?wait on/upon (v prep) 1)伺候(招待)某人(vt)：The host is～ing on/upon the guests. 主人正在招待客人。2)拜訪(vt)(fml)：The overseas agent～s on/upon the client every six months. 海外代表每六個月拜訪一次客戶。3)隨……而來：Success～s on effort. 成功來自努力。
?wait on sb hand and foot 無微不至地服侍某人：The volunteers are～ing on the wounded hand and foot. 志愿者無微不至地照顧傷員。
?wait out (v adv)(耐心地)等待某事的完結(vt)：They were patiently～ing out the war/a storm. 他們耐心地等待戰(zhàn)爭/暴風雨的結束。
?wait and see 等著瞧：You just～and see! 你等著瞧吧!
?wait up (v adv)熬夜等候(vi)： Don't～up (for me)， and I'll be back home very late tonight. 別熬夜等我，我今晚要很晚才能回家。
?→′waiter n 男服務(招待)員;′waiting-list n 等候者名單;′waiting-room n 候車(診)室;′waitress n 女服務(招待)員;
?n等待(候)(waiting)[C][N(for)]：They have no patience for a～. 他們沒有等候的耐心。We had a long～for the taxi. 我們等出租車等了很久。There was a long～before they could board the train. 他們等了很長時間才登上火車。have a～of four hours/a four-hour～等候了四個小時;
?【辨異】wait 與 await 和 expect 的區(qū)別見AWAIT。