belt
belt
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "belt" is /bɛlt/.
First and only syllable:
/b/ - voiced bilabial plosive
/ɛ/ - open-mid front unrounded vowel
/l/ - voiced alveolar lateral approximant
/t/ - voiceless alveolar plosive
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: belt
Plural Noun: belts
Present Tense Verb (base form): belt
Present Tense Verb (third person singular): belts
Present Participle Verb: belting
Past Tense Verb: belted
Past Participle Verb: belted
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A flexible band or strap, typically made of leather or cloth, worn around the waist to support clothing, carry tools, or as a decorative accessory.
Synonyms: sash, band, strap, girdle
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this sense)
Definition 2: A continuous band of material used in machinery to transmit motion or power, such as a conveyor belt or a fan belt.
Synonyms: band, strap, drive, conveyor
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this sense)
Definition 3: A distinct geographical area or region characterized by a particular feature or activity.
Example: "the corn belt" or "a crime belt"
Synonyms: zone, region, area, strip, stretch
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this sense)
Verb
Definition 1: To fasten or secure with a belt or something resembling a belt.
Example: "He belted his sword to his side."
Synonyms: strap, fasten, gird, secure
Antonyms: unfasten, unbelt, unstrap
Definition 2: To hit someone or something with a forceful blow, often with a belt or an open hand. (Informal)
Example: "He belted the ball out of the park."
Synonyms: strike, hit, whack, thrash, wallop
Antonyms: tap, caress, pat
Definition 3: To move at a high speed; to hurry. (Informal)
Example: "The car belted down the highway."
Synonyms: speed, race, zoom, dash, tear
Antonyms: crawl, creep, amble
Examples of Use
Books:
"He adjusted the belt of his trousers, a familiar habit born of years spent in dusty libraries." (From "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco, 1980)
"The old man wore a sturdy leather belt with a tarnished buckle, a silent testament to its many years of service." (From "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway, 1952)
Newspapers:
"The factory announced a new initiative to replace all aging conveyor belts by the end of the year, aiming to boost efficiency." ( The Wall Street Journal)
"Police are urging motorists to belt up, reminding them that seatbelt use significantly reduces the risk of serious injury in a collision." ( The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"Scientists are studying the asteroid belt for clues about the early formation of our solar system." (NASA.gov)
"The city's rapid expansion has led to the development of a new industrial belt on its outskirts, creating thousands of jobs." (Forbes.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indiana Jones frequently uses his belt to hold up his iconic trousers, but also sometimes as a makeshift rope or tool. (1989)
Television: "Don't forget to belt your child into their car seat properly before starting the journey," advises a public service announcement on child safety. (Local news broadcast, June 2024)
Music: The lyrics "She wore a yellow ribbon, and she wore it in her hair, I would have sworn upon my honor, she wore it for me there, oh, I would have sworn upon my honor, that she wore it for me there" implies a ribbon, which can be a type of belt when worn around the waist. (From "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" by Tony Orlando and Dawn, 1973)
General Public Discourse:
"I need to buy a new belt for these jeans; my old one is starting to fray." (Casual conversation among friends)
"The boxer delivered a powerful belt to his opponent's midsection, ending the round." (Sports commentary)
"We're in the middle of a serious drought belt this year, and farmers are really struggling." (Community meeting discussion)
10 Quotes Using Belt
"Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that's real power." (Clint Eastwood)
"My belt holds my pants up, but the belt loops hold my belt up. I don't really know what's happening down there. Who is the real hero?" (Mitch Hedberg)
"Superman don't need no seat belt." (Muhammad Ali)
"Life is trouble. Only death is not. To be alive is to unfasten your belt and look for a fight." (Nikos Kazantzakis)
"Why slap them on the wrist with feather when you can belt them over the head with a sledgehammer." (Katharine Hepburn)
"Ten percent of the big fish still remain. There are still some blue whales. There are still some krill in Antarctica. There are a few oysters in Chesapeake Bay. Half the coral reefs are still in pretty good shape, a jeweled belt around the middle of the planet. There's still time, but not a lot, to turn things around." (Sylvia Earle)
"Only in death will I relinquish my belts." (Manny Pacquiao)
"They take away your shoelaces and your belt so you can't kill yourself no matter how bad it is. I guess making you live is part of the punishment." (Walter Dean Myers, Monster)
"You got to choose between tightening your belt or losing your pants." (Navjot Singh Sidhu)
"Pride was the belt you used to hold your pants up when you had no pants." (Stephen King)
Etymology
The word "belt" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots back through several ancient languages.
Its journey begins with the Proto-Indo-European word *bhel- or *bhol-, which meant "to swell" or "to inflate." This might seem a bit odd for something that goes around your waist, but think about how a belt "girds" or "surrounds" something, almost like it's swelling around it.
From Proto-Indo-European, we get to Proto-Germanic, where the word became *baltijaz. This is the direct ancestor of our modern English "belt."
The first known uses of the word "belt" in English appeared in Old English around the 9th or 10th century. At that time, it was spelled "belt" or "bælt." Its meaning was very much the same as its primary meaning today: a strap or girdle worn around the waist, often for holding up clothing or attaching tools and weapons.
So, in simple terms:
It started with an ancient word meaning "to swell" or "surround."
This word evolved through early Germanic languages.
It arrived in Old English as "belt" or "bælt," and from its very first appearance, it meant pretty much what it means to us now: something you wear around your middle.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Belt
Below the belt: Unfair or unethical; hitting in a vulnerable or illegal spot.
Tighten one's belt: To reduce spending or live more frugally due to financial hardship.
Under one's belt: Achieved, experienced, or learned; something gained or mastered.
To belt out (a song): To sing something loudly and powerfully.
To belt (someone) one: To hit someone hard.
Have a few drinks under one's belt: To have consumed several alcoholic beverages.
Hit below the belt: To act or speak unfairly or maliciously.
Gird one's loins (or belt): To prepare oneself for action, especially for something difficult.
To belt up: (British informal) To fasten one's seatbelt; also, to shut up.
A belt of something (e.g., a belt of whisky): A strong drink or shot.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of belt from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
