refuse
n. uncountablen. trash or waste that people throw away. It is a more formal word for things like food scraps or old packaging.
n. matter thrown away or rejected as worthless; trash or rubbish. Often used in administrative or technical contexts regarding waste management.
The city collects refuse every Tuesday morning.
The local council implemented new regulations to ensure that household refuse is sorted into recyclable and non-recyclable bins.
The industrial site was heavily fined after investigators discovered that hazardous refuse had been leaking into the groundwater for several months.
Borrowed into late Middle English from Middle French refusé, past participle of refuser (“to refuse”). Displaced native Middle English wernen (“to refuse”)
From Middle English refusen, from Old French refuser, from Vulgar Latin *refūsāre, a blend of Classical Latin refūtāre (whence also refute) and recūsāre (whence also recuse).
From re- + fuse.
Uncountable; typically used in formal, municipal, or technical contexts rather than casual conversation.
The street was full of refuses.The street was full of refuse.Refuse is uncountable when referring to waste; it does not have a plural form in this sense.