wafer
wafer — noun
- wafersingular
- wafersplural
1. a crisp, very light biscuit made in a thin flat sheet, often eaten as a sweet sn
a crisp, very light biscuit made in a thin flat sheet, often eaten as a sweet snack or served with ice cream
Asher snapped the chocolate wafer in half and shared it with Iris.
collocation: chocolate wafer
The cafe served vanilla ice cream with a rolled wafer on top.
Salma packed strawberry wafers in her bag for the train ride.
A broken wafer left sweet crumbs all over the picnic blanket.
- chocolate wafer
- vanilla wafer
- wafer roll
Usage Note
Often appears in product names such as chocolate wafer, wafer roll, or vanilla wafer.
2. a small round piece of plain bread given to worshippers during the Christian ser
a small round piece of plain bread given to worshippers during the Christian service of Holy Communion
The priest placed a wafer in each person's hand at Mass.
religious use: given during Mass
Jenna waited quietly before receiving the wafer at the front.
A silver tray held the wafers for the Sunday service.
The child asked why the wafer was round and so light.
- communion wafer
- receive the wafer
- altar wafer
Usage Note
Used mainly in church contexts, especially when people are receiving Communion during a service.
3. a very thin crisp snack made from potato or another vegetable and usually sold w
a very thin crisp snack made from potato or another vegetable and usually sold with seasoning
Linh opened a bag of barbecue wafers during the movie.
snack use: flavoured vegetable chips
The shop sells beetroot wafers beside the potato chips.
Femi sprinkled sea salt over the hot wafers from the fryer.
We shared carrot wafers with sandwiches at the picnic.
- potato wafers
- barbecue wafers
- vegetable wafers
Usage Note
This use is chiefly British and refers to very thin snack slices rather than the sweeter biscuit sense.
4. a little dried circle of paste that was stuck onto a letter to keep it closed
a little dried circle of paste that was stuck onto a letter to keep it closed
Rohan pressed a red wafer onto the flap of the envelope.
old-style letter seal
The lawyer broke the wafer before reading the folded note.
A dried wafer still held the invitation closed after years.
Grandma kept spare wafers in a tin beside her writing desk.
- seal a letter with a wafer
- red wafer
- letter wafer
Usage Note
An old-fashioned postal item; modern speakers usually say seal or sticker instead.
Etymology
First known use
14th century
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Verb