belt

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈbelt 

1

a

: a strip of flexible material worn especially around the waist as an item of clothing or a means of carrying something (such as tools)

b

: a similar article worn as a corset or for protection or safety or as a symbol of distinction

2

: a continuous band of tough flexible material for transmitting motion and power or conveying materials

3

a

: an area characterized by some distinctive feature (as of culture, habitation, geology, or life forms)

especially : one suited to a particular crop

the corn belt

b

: asteroid belt

4

: beltway sense 1

belted

ˈbel-təd 

adjective

beltless

ˈbelt-ləs 

adjective

belt

2 of 3

verb

belted; belting; belts

transitive verb

1

a

: to encircle or fasten with a belt

b

: to strap on

2

a

: to beat with or as if with a belt : thrash

b

: strike, hit

3

: to mark with a band

4

: to sing in a forceful manner or style

belting out popular songs

5

: to drink quickly

belted down a shot of whisky

intransitive verb

1

: to move or act in a speedy, vigorous, or violent manner

2

: to sing loudly

belt

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: a jarring blow : whack

2

: drink

a belt of gin

Phrases

below the belt

: unfair, unfairly

under one's belt

: in one's possession : as part of one's experience

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• ceinture
• cincture
• cummerbund
• cumberbund
• girdle
• sash
• self-belt

Verb

• bang
• bash
• bat
• biff
• bludgeon
• bob
• bonk
• bop
• box
• bust
• clap
• clip
• clobber
• clock
• clout
• crack
• hammer
• hit
• knock
• nail
• paste
• pound
• punch
• rap
• slam
• slap
• slog
• slug
• smack
• smite
• sock
• strike
• swat
• swipe
• tag
• thump
• thwack
• wallop
• whack
• whale
• zap

Noun (2)

• bang
• bash
• bat
• beat
• biff
• blow
• bop
• box
• buffet
• bust
• chop
• clap
• clip
• clout
• crack
• cuff
• dab
• douse [British]
• fillip
• hack
• haymaker
• hit
• hook
• knock
• larrup [dialect]
• lash
• lick
• pelt
• pick
• plump
• poke
• pound
• punch
• rap
• slam
• slap
• slug
• smack
• smash
• sock
• spank
• stinger
• stripe
• stroke
• swat
• swipe
• switch
• thud
• thump
• thwack
• wallop
• welt
• whack
• wham
• whop
• whap

Examples of belt in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a drugstore cowboy who loves his fancily decorated belt

that part of the country is sometimes called "the farm belt" because of the number of farms there

Verb

His bathrobe was loosely belted.

He belted the ball down the fairway.

Some drunk got mad and threatened to belt me.

Noun (2)

delivered a shattering belt to the rock with a hammer

he knocked back a belt of whiskey before leaving

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

With a quarter-century under its belt, the trail of makers has seen smaller bourbon networks spring up nearby—like the Kentucky Craft Trail—for a smaller feel. —Julia Eskins, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 June 2024

The guess here is Vorhees will seize one of the guard jobs and Jones, with 24 NFL starts under his belt, will factor, much as John Simpson did last year. —Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 15 June 2024

Verb

At age 81, the timeless Payne pulls off miracle after miracle as the revered songstress, belting with glee and ebulliently scatting through dozens of songs with, like Fitzgerald, a shockingly wide vocabulary of sounds and syllables. —Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 20 June 2024

Its modern, military-style button-down shirt is oversized and belted, while the elastic-waist shorts hit just below the thigh. —Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 18 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German balz belt; both from Latin balteus belt

Verb

Middle English belten, derivative of belt belt entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing belt

• asteroid belt
• below the belt
• belt line
• belt-tightening
• belt up
• black belt
• borsch belt
• borscht belt
• cartridge belt
• chastity belt
• fan belt
• garter belt
• lap belt
• life belt
• rust belt
• safety belt
• Sam Browne belt
• seat belt
• self-belt
• shoulder belt
• suspender belt
• tighten one's belt
• timing belt
• under one's belt
• Van Allen belt
• web belt

Kids Definition

belt

1 of 3 noun

ˈbelt 

1

: a strip of flexible material (as leather) worn around a person's body for holding in or supporting something (as clothing, tools, or weapons) or for ornament

2

: a flexible continuous band running around wheels or pulleys and used for moving or carrying something

a fan belt on a car

3

: a region suited to or producing something or having some special feature

the corn belt

a storm belt

belted

ˈbel-təd 

adjective

belt

2 of 3 verb

1

: to put a belt on or around

2

: to hit hard

belt a home run

3

: to mark with a band

4

: to sing in a forceful way

belt out a song

belt

3 of 3 noun

: a jarring blow