waffle

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Derived terms 1.3.3 Translations 1.4 Verb 1.4.1 Synonyms 1.4.2 Translations

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

From Dutch wafel (1) and waffel (2).

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈwɒfl/, SAMPA: /"wOfl/
• (US) IPA: /ˈwɑːfl/, /ˈwɔːfl/, SAMPA: /"wOfl/, /"wAfl/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -ɒfəl

[edit] Noun

waffle (plural waffles)

1. (countable) A flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern.

   The brunch was waffles with strawberries and whipped cream.

2. (uncountable) Speech or writing that is vague, pretentious or evasive.

   This interesting point seems to get lost a little within a lot of self-important waffle.

[edit] Synonyms

• (vague, pretentious or evasive talk): see Wikisaurus:chatter

[edit] Derived terms

• waffled

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to waffle (third-person singular simple present waffles, present participle waffling, simple past and past participle waffled)

1. To speak or write waffle.
2. To vacillate.

   He waffles between loving the movie and hating it, depending on who's asking.

3. (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) Police slang meaning to slam on the brakes suddenly and violently causing the rider in the rear seat to slam up against the grating separating the back from the front seat. This grating typically will have a "waffle" pattern. This may be done to encourage proper behavior from an occupant of the rear seat who is "acting up".
   • 2005, Carter Coleman, Cage’s Bend, Warner Books, ISBN 978-0-446-57661-1, page 56:

     […] then he slams on the brakes until […] my face smacks into the mesh, the little cop yelling, Waffled! […]

4. (transitive) To rotate (one's hand) back and forth in a gesture of vacillation or ambivalence.
   • 2007, Michael Koryta, Sorrow’s Anthem, Macmillan, ISBN 978-0-312-93660-0, page 146:

     “ […] You get anything useful on the background checks?” ¶ He waffled his hand. “Nothing like what you brought back, but still some interesting notes. […] ”

5. The side to side motion made by birds to lose altitude before they land.

   The geese waffled as they approached the water.

[edit] Synonyms

• (vacillate): blow hot and cold

[edit] Translations