[bɛlt], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a strip of leather or other material worn, typically round the waist, to support or hold in clothes or to carry weapons
(e.g: he tightened his leather belt an extra notch)

- a continuous band of material used in machinery for transferring motion from one wheel to another
(e.g: a great wheel driven by a leather belt)

- a strip or encircling area that is different in nature or composition from its surroundings
(e.g: the asteroid belt)

- a heavy blow
(e.g: she administered a good belt with her stick)


Phrases:
- below the belt
- belt and braces
- tighten one's belt
- under one's belt

Origin:
Old English, of Germanic origin, from Latin balteus ‘girdle’

[bɛlt], (Verb)

Definitions:
- fasten with a belt
(e.g: she belted her raincoat firmly)

- hit (someone or something) hard
(e.g: she belted him over the head with her racquet)

- rush or dash in a specified direction
(e.g: he belted out of the side door)

- gulp (a drink) quickly
(e.g: cocktails should be sipped and savoured, not belted down)


Phrases:
- below the belt
- belt and braces
- tighten one's belt
- under one's belt

Origin:
Old English, of Germanic origin, from Latin balteus ‘girdle’