---
title: waste — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «waste» in the school dictionary: Waste is rubbish: things that are thrown away because they are not wanted. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# waste

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** waste, you, Waste land, land, He, family · **What happens:** be, throw away, not want, use, waste, mean · **To what, where:** Waste rubbish, things, something, more, land, minutes waiting · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«waste» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [waste in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/waste.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Waste is rubbish: things that are thrown away because they are not wanted.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waste:m1:1
# text = Waste is rubbish: things that are thrown away because they are not wanted.
1	Waste	waste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	rubbish	rubbish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
5	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	thrown	throw	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	away	away	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
11	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	wanted	want	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | Waste rubbish and things |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **throw away** | present · passive |  | things |  |  |  | away *property* | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **want** | present · passive |  | things *= thing* |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: subject=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A waste is something used badly or for nothing: a waste of time, a waste of money.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waste:m2:1
# text = A waste is something used badly or for nothing: a waste of time, a waste of money.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	waste	waste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	5	advmod	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	waste	waste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	waste	waste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a waste | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | for nothing; badly *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To waste means to use more than you need, or to use something for nothing.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waste:m3:1
# text = To waste means to use more than you need, or to use something for nothing.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	waste	waste	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	obj	_	_
7	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
14	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	obj	_	_
15	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **waste** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **use** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | more |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent more=Patient |
| 4 | **need** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 5 | **use** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | for nothing | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent something=Theme for nothing=Eventuality |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Waste land is land that is empty and not used.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waste:m4:1
# text = Waste land is land that is empty and not used.
1	Waste	waste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	empty	empty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Waste land | land |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | land |  |  |  |  | empty *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **use** | participle | land *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He wasted 20 minutes waiting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waste:x1:1
# text = He wasted 20 minutes waiting.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wasted	waste	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	compound	_	_
5	waiting	waiting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **waste** | past | He | minutes waiting |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent waiting=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The family makes 5 kg of waste a week.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waste:x2:1
# text = The family makes 5 kg of waste a week.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	kg	kg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	waste	waste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | the family | 5 kg of waste |  |  | week |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset kg=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of 10 m of cloth, 1 m is waste.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waste:x3:1
# text = Of 10 m of cloth, 1 m is waste.
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	m	m	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	m	M	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	waste	waste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | m waste |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Do not waste paper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waste:x4:1
# text = Do not waste paper.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	waste	waste	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **waste** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | paper |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent paper=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put the waste in the right recycling bin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waste:x5:1
# text = Put the waste in the right recycling bin.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	waste	waste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	recycling	recycling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	bin	bin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* | the waste |  | the right recycling bin |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent waste=Theme in bin=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Do not let the food go to waste.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waste:x6:1
# text = Do not let the food go to waste.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	waste	waste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **let** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the food |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | infinitive | the food *not said here* |  |  | waste |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to waste=Initial\_Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Arguing about it is a waste of time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waste:x7:1
# text = Arguing about it is a waste of time.
1	Arguing	argue	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	about	about	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	1	obl	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	waste	waste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **argue** *speech: disagree* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | about it | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V PP.theme S»: agent=Agent about it=Topic |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Arguing | a waste |  |  | time |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth saves wasted water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waste:x8:1
# text = Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth saves wasted water.
1	Turning	turn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	csubj	_	_
2	off	off	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	tap	tap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	brushing	brush	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	saves	save	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	wasted	waste	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	amod	_	_
11	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn off** | gerund |  | the tap |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent tap=Patient |
| 2 | **brush** | gerund |  | your teeth |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent tooth=Theme |
| 3 | **save** | present | Turning | wasted water |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Theme |
| 4 | **waste** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But there is no time to waste.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waste:x9:1
# text = But there is no time to waste.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
2	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	3	expl	_	_
3	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	5	det	_	_
5	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	waste	waste	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | no time |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **waste** | to-infinitive | no time *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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