waffle

noun

/ˈwɒfl/

/ˈwɑːfl/

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[countable] a dry, flat cake with a pattern of squares on both sides, often eaten with sweet sauce, cream, etc. on top
- a waffle iron (= for making waffles with)
Topics Foodc2
[uncountable] (British English, informal) language that uses a lot of words but does not say anything important or interesting
- The report is just full of waffle.
- You have to sit through a lot of waffle about procedures.

Word Originnoun sense 1 mid 18th cent.: from Dutch wafel; compare with wafer. noun sense 2 late 17th cent. (originally in the sense ‘yap, yelp’): frequentative of dialect waff ‘yelp’, of imitative origin.

waffle

verb

/ˈwɒfl/

/ˈwɑːfl/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they waffle	/ˈwɒfl/ /ˈwɑːfl/
he / she / it waffles	/ˈwɒflz/ /ˈwɑːflz/
past simple waffled	/ˈwɒfld/ /ˈwɑːfld/
past participle waffled	/ˈwɒfld/ /ˈwɑːfld/
-ing form waffling	/ˈwɒflɪŋ/ /ˈwɑːflɪŋ/

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[intransitive] waffle (on) (about something) (British English, informal, disapproving) to talk or write using a lot of words but without saying anything interesting or important
- The principal waffled on about exam results but no one was listening.
- If you want to sound professional—don’t waffle.
[intransitive] waffle (on/over something) (North American English, informal) to be unable to decide what to do about something or what you think about something
- The senator was accused of waffling on major issues.

Word Originverb late 17th cent. (originally in the sense ‘yap, yelp’): frequentative of dialect waff ‘yelp’, of imitative origin.