waffle

Everyday

1. A waffle is a crisp flat cake made of batter, cooked in a hot iron that gives it a grid of little squares. tree →
2. (UK, informal) Waffle is long talk or writing that says very little. tree →
3. (UK, informal) To waffle is to talk or write too much without saying anything useful. tree →
4. (US, informal) To waffle is to keep changing your mind and not decide. tree →

In the lessons

Used for breakfast food (with syrup, berries, ice cream), and by teachers about essays: «Don't waffle — get to the point».

Examples

• We had waffles with maple syrup for breakfast. tree →
• Belgian waffles are thick and soft inside. tree →
• My teacher said my essay was full of waffle. tree →
• Stop waffling and answer the question! tree →
• He waffled on for ages about his holiday. tree →
• The mayor waffled about whether to close the park. tree →
• The waffle iron leaves a pattern of squares. tree →

Note

Two meanings in one spelling: food, and empty talk. The UK sense «waffle on» means talking too long; the US sense means being unsure. Food plural: «waffles». The talk sense is uncountable: «a lot of waffle», not «waffles».