belt

[belt]

noun

1. a band of flexible material, as leather or cord, for encircling the waist.

2. any encircling or transverse band, strip, or stripe.

3. an elongated region having distinctive properties or characteristics.

   a belt of cotton plantations.

4. Machinery.,  an endless flexible band passing about two or more pulleys, used to transmit motion from one pulley to the other or others or to convey materials and objects.

5. Military.

   1. a cloth strip with loops or a series of metal links with grips, for holding cartridges fed into an automatic gun.

   2. a band of leather or webbing, worn around the waist and used as a support for weapons, ammunition, etc.

6. a series of armor plates forming part of the hull of a warship.

7. a broad, flexible strip of rubber, canvas, wood, etc., moved along the surface of a fresh concrete pavement to put a finish on it after it has been floated.

8. a road, railroad, or the like, encircling an urban center to handle peripheral traffic.

9. Slang.,  a hard blow or hit.

10. Slang.,  a shot of liquor, especially as swallowed in one gulp.

11. Automotive.,  a strip of material used in a type of motor-vehicle tire belted tire, where it is placed between the carcass and the tread for reinforcement.

verb (used with object)

1. to gird or furnish with a belt.

   Synonyms: encircle, girdle

2. to surround or mark as if with a belt or band.

   Garbage cans were belted with orange paint.

3. to fasten on (a sword, gun, etc.) by means of a belt.

4. to beat with or as if with a belt, strap, etc.

   Synonyms: lash, flog

5. Slang.,  to hit very hard, far, etc..

   You were lucky he didn't belt you in the mouth when you said that. He belted a triple to right field.

6. Informal.,  to sing (a song) loudly and energetically (sometimes followed byout ).

   She can belt out a number with the best of them.

7. Slang.,  to drink (a shot of liquor) quickly, especially in one gulp (sometimes followed bydown ).

   He belted a few and went back out into the cold.

belt

/ bɛlt /

noun

1. a band of cloth, leather, etc, worn, usually around the waist, to support clothing, carry tools, weapons, or ammunition, or as decoration

2. a narrow band, circle, or stripe, as of colour

3. an area, esp an elongated one, where a specific thing or specific conditions are found; zone

   the town belt

   a belt of high pressure

4. a belt worn as a symbol of rank (as by a knight or an earl), or awarded as a prize (as in boxing or wrestling), or to mark particular expertise (as in judo or karate)

5. See seat belt

6. a band of flexible material between rotating shafts or pulleys to transfer motion or transmit goods

   a fan belt

   a conveyer belt

7. a beltcourse See cordon

8. informal,  a sharp blow, as with a bat or the fist

9. 1. boxing below the waist, esp in the groin

   2. informal,  in an unscrupulous or cowardly way

10. to take measures to reduce expenditure

11. 1. (of food or drink) in one's stomach

    2. in one's possession

    3. as part of one's experience

       he had a linguistics degree under his belt

verb

1. (tr) to fasten or attach with or as if with a belt

2. (tr) to hit with a belt

3. slang,  (tr) to give a sharp blow; punch

4. slang,  to move very fast, esp in a car

   belting down the motorway

5. rare,  (tr) to mark with belts, as of colour

6. rare,  (tr) to encircle; surround

belt

1. A geographic region that is distinctive in a specific respect.

Other Word Forms

• belted noun
• beltless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of belt¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English; compare Old High German balz; both < Latin balteus; balteus

Word History and Origins

Origin of belt¹

Old English, from Latin balteus

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. under one's belt,

   1. in one's stomach, as food or drink.

      With a few Scotches under his belt, he's everyone's friend.

   2. considered as a matter of successful past experience.

      I don't think our lawyer has enough similar cases under his belt.

2. below the belt, not in accord with the principles of fairness, decency, or good sportsmanship.

   criticism that hit below the belt.

3. tighten one's belt,

   1. to undergo hardship patiently.

   2. to curtail one's expenditures; be more frugal.

      They were urged to tighten their belts for the war effort.

More idioms and phrases containing belt

• below the belt
• bible belt
• sun belt
• tighten one's belt
• under one's belt

Synonym Study

Belt and zone agree in their original meaning of a girdle or band. Belt is more used in popular or journalistic writing: the corn or wheat belt. Zone tends to be used in technical language: the Torrid Zone; a parcel-post zone.

Example Sentences

Dorothy belts “Over the Rainbow” underneath newly actualized bluebirds and an impressively ominous sky.

From Los Angeles Times

“These incentives were a tool in the tool belt to help families access equipment that lasts a really long time, and that helps them save money on their bills,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

After killing her, Tape moved her body from the driver's seat to the passenger seat, buckled the seat belt and drove away.

From BBC

Situated in the northeast of the Caribbean island arc, Anguilla lies perfectly within the North Atlantic hurricane belt.

From BBC

But it is an apt one to belt out as they look towards a horizon framed by cranes towering over ships of all sizes.

From BBC

Related Words

• bash 
• bat 
• clobber 
• slam 
• slug 
• smack 
• smash 
• sock 
• wallop 
• whip 

When To Use

What is a basic definition of belt?

A belt is a band of fabric worn around the waist. It is also a long, thin region with distinctive properties, as in a belt of corn fields in a larger farming region. The word belt is also used informally as a verb to mean to sing loudly or to hit something very hard. Belt has several other senses as a noun and a verb.The word belt most often refers to a band of flexible fabric, like leather, worn around the waist to keep your pants from falling down. Other types of bands worn around the waist include tool belts and championship belts.Real-life examples: Most clothing stores sell leather belts. A seat belt is worn around the waist while riding in a vehicle to keep you in the seat in case of an emergency. Martial arts groups use colored belts to indicate a person’s mastery level.Used in a sentence: Batman keeps all of his gadgets in his utility belt. Similar to the band around your waist, a belt can be a long, thin area with something distinctive about it.Real-life examples: In the United States, the Bible Belt is an area of the Midwest and South where strong Christian beliefs are very common. The U.S.’s Corn Belt is an area of the Midwest that grows a lot of corn.Used in a sentence: In history class, we studied the old industries of the Rust Belt in the northeastern U.S. Belt is also used informally to mean to sing loudly. When used in this sense, belt is often followed with the word out.Used in a sentence: The rock star belted out all of her greatest hits at the concert.  A slang use of belt means to hit or strike something really hard.Used in a sentence: The boxer belted his opponent in the face, knocking him unconscious.