belt

A strip of leather or cloth worn around your waist to hold clothes up or carry things.

• My belt is too tight.
• She wore a red belt with her dress.
• I need a belt to hold these trousers up.

Similar words: girdle, waistband, sash, strap

Common phrases: leather belt, wear a belt, belt buckle

A strong strap that holds someone safely in a seat or in place.

• Fasten your belt before we leave.
• The safety belt kept him in his seat.
• All passengers must keep their belts fastened during landing.

Similar words: safety strap

Common phrases: seat belt, safety belt, fasten a belt

A continuous band that moves around wheels to carry power or motion in a machine.

• The machine needs a new belt.
• A broken belt stopped the engine.
• Check the drive belt for signs of wear.

Similar words: drive band

Common phrases: drive belt, fan belt, belt drive

A long, narrow area or strip of something.

• A belt of trees surrounds the farm.
• They live in the country’s industrial belt.
• The storm crossed a narrow belt of coastal land.

How to use it: belt of something (A belt of forest separates the two villages.)

Similar words: strip, band, zone

Common phrases: green belt, belt of trees, industrial belt

To put a strap around someone or something and fasten it.

• She belted her coat at the waist.
• We belted the children into their seats.
• He belted himself in before starting the car.

How to use it: belt someone in (She belted the baby in before driving away.); belt something around something (He belted the robe around his waist.)

Similar words: strap, fasten

Common phrases: belt someone in, belt something on, belt a coat

To form a strip or ring around a place or thing.

• Forests belt the small town.
• The village was belted by green fields.
• A narrow strip of sand belts the island.

Similar words: surround, encircle

Common phrases: belt a town, belt the coast