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desperdiciar

to waste

verb des-pehr-dee-SYAHR Rare

Also means

to squander

Usage Note

Desperdiciar means to waste a resource, opportunity, or talent. The related noun desperdicio means waste or garbage (especially food waste). The phrase no desperdiciar ni una migaja (not to waste a single crumb) is a common idiom. In Latin America, desperdicio can refer concretely to household rubbish.

Examples

"No debes desperdiciar el agua."

Natural Translation

You should not waste water.

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