■ noun
1》 a strip of leather or other material worn round the waist to support or hold in clothes or to carry weapons.
↘a ~ worn as a sign of rank or achievement, as in judo, karate, or similar sports.
↘( the ~ ) the punishment of being struck with a ~.
2》 a continuous band of material used in machinery for transferring motion from one wheel to another.
3》 a strip or encircling area of a specified kind: the asteroid ~.
4》 informal a heavy blow.
■ verb
1》 fasten or secure with a ~.
2》 beat or hit very hard.
↘( ~ something out ) informal sing or play something loudly and without finesse.
3》 informal rush or dash in a specified direction.
4》 ( ~ up ) Brit. informal be quiet.
Phrases
below the ~ unfair; disregarding the rules.
~ and braces Brit. providing double security, by using more than one means to the same end.
tighten one's ~ cut one's expenditure.
under one's ~ safely or satisfactorily achieved, experienced, or acquired.
Derivatives
~ed adjective
~ing noun
Origin
OE, of Gmc origin, from L. balteus 'girdle'.