waste basket
Definition
Noun: A small, open-topped container, typically placed in a home or office, for holding discarded paper and other small items of rubbish until they are disposed of.
Usage
The term "waste basket" refers specifically to the container itself. It is used to describe where you put trash, not the act of throwing something away. * Please throw your used tissues in the waste basket. * The office waste basket is full and needs to be emptied. * She dropped the crumpled letter into the waste basket by her desk.
Advanced Usage
- Metaphorical Use: Sometimes used to describe something being rejected or discarded as worthless.
- The first draft of his novel ended up in the waste basket.
- "Circular file": A humorous or euphemistic synonym for a waste basket.
- That useless report is destined for the circular file.
Variants and Related Words
- Wastebasket (Noun): A common single-word spelling variant with the same meaning.
- Wastepaper basket (Noun): A more specific term, emphasizing its common use for paper.
- Trash can (Noun): A more general term, often for a larger container, sometimes with a lid.
- Bin (Noun): A general British English term for a container for rubbish.
Synonyms
- Trash can
- Wastepaper basket
- Bin (chiefly British)
- Garbage can (for larger containers)
Antonyms
- Filing cabinet
- Storage box
- Archive
Related Phrases
- To toss/throw something in the waste basket: To discard something.
- He tossed the junk mail straight into the waste basket.
- Waste-basket diagnosis: (Medical/Informal) A non-specific or catch-all diagnosis given when the exact cause is unclear.
- "Tension headache" is sometimes used as a waste-basket diagnosis for unexplained head pain.
Noun
-
a container with an open top; for discarded paper and other rubbish
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