a band of flexible material, as leather or cord, for encircling the waist.
2.
any encircling or transverse band, strip, or stripe.
3.
an elongated region having distinctive properties or characteristics: a belt of cotton plantations.
4.
Machinery. an endless flexible band passing about two or more pulleys, used to transmit motion from one pulley to the other or others or to convey materials and objects.
5.
Military.
a.
a cloth strip with loops or a series of metal links with grips, for holding cartridges fed into an automatic gun.
b.
a band of leather or webbing, worn around the waist and used as a support for weapons, ammunition, etc.
6.
a series of armor plates forming part of the hull of a warship.
7.
a broad, flexible strip of rubber, canvas, wood, etc., moved along the surface of a fresh concrete pavement to put a finish on it after it has been floated.
8.
a road, railroad, or the like, encircling an urban center to handle peripheral traffic.
9.
Slang. a hard blow or hit.
10.
Slang. a shot of liquor, esp. as swallowed in one gulp.
11.
Automotive. a strip of material used in a type of motor-vehicle tire (belted tire), where it is placed between the carcass and the tread for reinforcement.
–verb (used with object)
12.
to gird or furnish with a belt.
13.
to surround or mark as if with a belt or band: Garbage cans were belted with orange paint.
14.
to fasten on (a sword, gun, etc.) by means of a belt.
15.
to beat with or as if with a belt, strap, etc.
16.
Slang. to hit very hard, far, etc.: You were lucky he didn't belt you in the mouth when you said that. He belted a triple to right field.
17.
Informal. to sing (a song) loudly and energetically (sometimes fol. by out): She can belt out a number with the best of them.
18.
Slang. to drink (a shot of liquor) quickly, esp. in one gulp (sometimes fol. by down): He belted a few and went back out into the cold.
—Idioms
19.
below the belt, not in accord with the principles of fairness, decency, or good sportsmanship: criticism that hit below the belt.
20.
tighten one's belt,
a.
to undergo hardship patiently.
b.
to curtail one's expenditures; be more frugal: They were urged to tighten their belts for the war effort.
21.
under one's belt, Informal.
a.
in one's stomach, as food or drink: With a few Scotches under his belt, he's everyone's friend.
b.
considered as a matter of successful past experience: I don't think our lawyer has enough similar cases under his belt.
[Origin: bef. 1000; ME; OE; cf. OHG balz; both < L balteus; see balteus]
—Related forms
beltless, adjective
—Synonyms 3.Belt and zone agree in their original meaning of a girdle or band. Belt is more used in popular or journalistic writing: the corn or wheat belt. Zone tends to be used in technical language: the Torrid Zone; a parcel-post zone. 12. girdle, encircle. 14. gird (on). 15. flog, lash.
O.E. belt, from P.Gmc. *baltjaz (cf. O.H.G. balz, O.N. balti, Swed. bälte), an early borrowing from L. balteus "girdle, sword belt," said by Varro to be an Etruscan word. As a mark of rank or distinction, c.1340; references to boxing championship belts date from 1812. Transferred sense of "broad stripe encircling something" is from 1664; verb meaning "to thrash as with a belt" is from 1649; general sense of "to hit, thrash" is attested from 1838. Below the belt "unfair" (1889) is from pugilism. To get something under (one's) belt is to get it into one's stomach.
Belt, MT (city, FIPS 5275) Location: 47.38597 N, 110.92580 W Population (1990): 571 (282 housing units) Area: 0.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 59412
Bal"dric\, n. [OE. baudric, bawdrik, through OF. (cf. F. baudrier and LL. baldringus, baldrellus), from OHG. balderich, cf. balz, palz, akin to E. belt. See Belt, n.] A broad belt, sometimes richly ornamented, worn over one shoulder, across the breast, and under the opposite arm; less properly, any belt. [Also spelt bawdrick.] A radiant baldric o'er his shoulder tied Sustained the sword that glittered at his side. --Pope.
Bal"tic\, a. [NL. mare Balticum, fr. L. balteus belt, from certain straits or channels surrounding its isles, called belts. See Belt.] Of or pertaining to the sea which separates Norway and Sweden from Jutland, Denmark, and Germany; situated on the Baltic Sea.
![[P]](http://cache.lexico.com/g/d/premium_mh.gif){kind=small}
Audio Help [belt] Pronunciation Key 
