1. 1. To remain or rest in expectation: waiting for the guests to arrive. See synonyms at stay¹.
   2. To tarry until another catches up.
2. To remain or be in readiness: lunch waiting on the table.
3. To remain temporarily neglected, unattended to, or postponed: The trip will have to wait.
4. To work as a waiter or waitress.

1. To remain or stay in expectation of; await: wait one's turn.
2. Informal. To delay (a meal or an event); postpone: They waited lunch for us.
3. To be a waiter or waitress at: wait tables.

1. The act of waiting or the time spent waiting.
2. Chiefly British.
   1. One of a group of musicians employed, usually by a city, to play in parades or public ceremonies.
   2. One of a group of musicians or carolers who perform in the streets at Christmastime.

wait on or upon

1. To serve the needs of; be in attendance on.
2. To make a formal call on; visit.
3. To follow as a result; depend on.
4. To await: They're waiting on my decision.

1. To delay until the termination of: wait out a war; waited out the miniskirt craze.

1. To postpone going to bed in anticipation of something or someone.
2. Informal. To stop or pause so that another can catch up: Let's wait up for the stragglers.

[Middle English waiten, from Old North French waitier, to watch, of Germanic origin.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.