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～. 我现在很忙， 告诉她得等一等。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 等一小会儿;～(for) a moment/a while 等一会儿;～for a train/a bus/a person 等火车/汽车/人;～for a reply/the further instructions/the turning of the tide 等待答复/进一步的指示/形势的转变;～for sb's answer/sb's explanation/sb's arrival 等待某人的回答/解释/到达;Time and tide～for no man.(prov)岁月不等人。～for a dead man's shoes (fig) 等某人死后接替其工作或继承其财产;What are you～ing for?(infml)你们不干还等什么呢?～to begin the seminar/hear the final decision/see the final score 等候研讨会的开始/听最后的决定/看最后的比分;I can't～to tell him the good news. 我迫不及待地要告诉他这个好消息。～for the right person to come/the dinner to be served/the rain to stop 等候要见的人到来/摆上晚餐/雨停下来;
 (2)等待(候)，期待(wait and watch for sth)[T+n]：～one's turn to book the ticket 等轮到自己订票;They are～ing their chance to get the revenge/their opportunity for another attempt. 他们等待时机进行报复/机会再作尝试。～one's convenience 等待某人方便之时;～the signal 期待着发出的信号;
 (3)推迟(be delayed or postponed)[I]：The work/business/discussion/trip can～. 这项工作/这件事情/这次讨论/这次旅行可以放一放。We can hardly/just can't～. 我们不能再耽搁了。This news cannot～until tomorrow. 这条消息不能等到明天再发布。This matter/business can～until next week; it's not urgent. 这件事情并不急，可以拖延到下周。My vacation will have to～. 我的休假得推迟。
 (4)延缓开饭(put off a meal)[T+n，D+n+prep(for)]：～lunch/supper for sb 等候某人推迟开午饭/晚饭;We don't have to～dinner for Dad since he is always late from work. 我们不必等爸爸回来再吃饭， 因为他总是很晚才下班。
 (5)车在路边暂时停留(stop a vehicle at the roadside)[I]：No～ing! 禁止停车!
 (6)就绪，准备好了(be ready)[I][常用prog]：The tea is～ing，and don't let it get cold. 茶已沏好，不要让它凉了。The shoes/slippers are～ing by the bed. 鞋/拖鞋已准备好放在床边了。The dinner is～ing for you. 饭给您准备好了。The agreement is～ing for your signature. 协议就等您签字。
 keep sb waiting 让某人等候： Sorry to have kept you～ing. 抱歉，让您久等了。
 you (just) wait 你等着瞧：You just～and I will take my revenge. 你等着瞧吧， 我要报复的。
 wait about/around (v adv)在某处等着(vi)：She made me～about/around in the corridor for a long time before the interview. 她让我在走廊里等了很久才接见我。
 wait at (AmE on) table 伺候进餐：The wait-er is～ing at/on table. 侍者正在伺候进餐。
 wait behind(v adv)等他人走后留下来 (vi)：After the meeting，I～ed behind to speak to the manager. 会后我留下与经理谈了谈。
 wait for the cat to jump 观望事情的发展(infml)：We won't take any further steps and just～for the cat to jump. 我们将不采取进一步的行动，等待形势明了再作决定。
 wait for it 等待时机(infml)：We just～for it and see what we can do about it. 我们要等待时机，看看我们能做些什么。
 wait in (v adv)在家中等候(vi)：We～ed in all the day but the guests did not show up. 我们在家中等了一天，但是客人没来。
 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)拜访(vt)(fml)：The overseas agent～s on/upon the client every six months. 海外代表每六个月拜访一次客户。3)随……而来：Success～s on effort. 成功来自努力。
 wait on sb hand and foot 无微不至地服侍某人：The volunteers are～ing on the wounded hand and foot. 志愿者无微不至地照顾伤员。
 wait out (v adv)(耐心地)等待某事的完结(vt)：They were patiently～ing out the war/a storm. 他们耐心地等待战争/暴风雨的结束。
 wait and see 等着瞧：You just～and see! 你等着瞧吧!
 wait up (v adv)熬夜等候(vi)： Don't～up (for me)， and I'll be back home very late tonight. 别熬夜等我，我今晚要很晚才能回家。
 →′waiter n 男服务(招待)员;′waiting-list n 等候者名单;′waiting-room n 候车(诊)室;′waitress n 女服务(招待)员;
 n等待(候)(waiting)[C][N(for)]：They have no patience for a～. 他们没有等候的耐心。We had a long～for the taxi. 我们等出租车等了很久。There was a long～before they could board the train. 他们等了很长时间才登上火车。have a～of four hours/a four-hour～等候了四个小时;
 【辨异】wait 与 await 和 expect 的区别见AWAIT。