waffle

/'wɔfl/

Thân thiện

A child pours syrup onto a warm waffle on a breakfast plate.

Definition

1. 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.

2. 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.

Học thuật

Noun

1. pancake batter baked in a waffle iron

Verb

1. pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
   • Authorities hesitate to quote exact figures

Từ đồng nghĩa

• hesitate
• waver