waist

Universal Words noun 1 the area around the middle of the body between the RIBS and the hips, often narrower than the areas above and below: He put his arm around her waist. * She was paralysed from the waist down (= in the area below her waist). * The workmen were stripped to the waist (= wearing no clothes on the top half of their bodies). 2 the part of a piece of clothing that covers the waist: It's much too tight at the waist. 3 (-waisted) (in adjectives) having the type of waist mentioned: a high-waisted dress