belt

[[t]be̱lt[/t]]

♦♦♦

belts, belting, belted

1) N-COUNT A belt is a strip of leather or cloth that you fasten round your waist.

→ See also , seat belt

He wore a belt with a large brass buckle.

2) N-COUNT A belt in a machine is a circular strip of rubber that is used to drive moving parts or to move objects along.

→ See also , fan belt

The turning disc is connected by a drive belt to an electric motor.

3) N-COUNT: with supp A belt of land or sea is a long, narrow area of it that has some special feature.

→ See also , commuter belt, green belt

Miners in Zambia's northern copper belt have gone on strike...

Behind him was a belt of trees, and behind the trees hills and fields.

Syn:

strip

4) VERB If someone belts you, they hit you very hard. [INFORMAL]

[V n] `Is it right she belted old George in the gut?' she asked.

Syn:

thump

N-COUNT

Belt is also a noun.

Father would give you a belt over the head with the scrubbing brush.

5) VERB If you belt somewhere, you move or travel there very fast. [INFORMAL]

[V prep/adv] We belted down Iveagh Parade to where the motor was.

Syn:

dash

6) N-COUNT: usu adj N If someone is or has a belt of a particular colour in judo or karate, they have reached the standard which that colour represents.

He is a black belt in karate.

7) → See also belted

8) PHRASE Something that is below the belt is cruel and unfair.

Do you think it's a bit below the belt what they're doing?

...this kind of below-the-belt discrimination.

9) PHRASE: V inflects If you have to tighten your belt, you have to spend less money and manage without things because you have less money than you used to have.

Clearly, if you are spending more than your income, you'll need to tighten your belt.

10) PHRASE: have/with n PHR If you have something under your belt, you have already achieved it or done it.

Clare is now a full-time author with six books, including four novels, under her belt.

Phrasal Verbs:

- belt out

- belt up