waffle
/'wɔfl/
Definition
Noun:
- A crisp, batter-based cake baked in a special iron with a grid pattern: A food item, typically eaten for breakfast or dessert, characterized by its distinctive indented square pattern.
Verb:
- To speak or write at length in a vague, evasive, or indecisive manner: To avoid giving a clear or direct answer or opinion.
- To be unable to decide; to waver or hesitate between choices: To pause or hold back due to uncertainty or unwillingness to commit.
Usage Examples
Noun: I had a waffle with maple syrup for breakfast. She bought a waffle iron to make them at home.
Verb: Stop waffling and give me a straight answer. The politician waffled on the difficult question during the interview. He waffled for weeks before finally choosing a university.
Advanced Usage
- "To waffle on (about something)": To talk or write about something at length in an unfocused, trivial, or evasive way.
Variants and Related Words
Waffler (n): A person who waffles; someone who is indecisive or evasive in speech. Don't be such a waffler; make a decision!
Waffly (adj): Resembling or characteristic of waffle; vague or indecisive. His waffly response frustrated the committee.
Synonyms
- Verb: Equivocate, prevaricate, hedge, vacillate, dither, hem and haw.
- Noun: (For the food) There is no direct synonym, but it is a type of pancake or cake.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Waffle on: (As shown in Advanced Usage) To continue speaking in a vague or lengthy way.
Related Idioms
- "To sit on the fence": This idiom is related in meaning to the verb 'waffle' in its sense of being indecisive. It means to avoid making a decision or choosing a side.
Noun
-
pancake batter baked in a waffle iron
Verb
-
pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
-
Authorities hesitate to quote exact figures
-
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ chứa "waffle"
Từ có nhắc đến "waffle"
