wind Hear it!

wind1 definition

wind (wīnd)

transitive verb wound or Rarewinded wind′ed, winding wind′·ing

    1. to turn, or make revolve to wind a crank
    2. to move by or as if by cranking
    1. to turn or coil (string, ribbon, etc.) around itself to form a ball or around something else so as to encircle it closely; twine; wreathe winding the bandage on his finger
    2. to wrap or cover by encircling with something turned in the manner of a coil; entwine to wind a spool with thread
    1. to make (one's way) in a winding or twisting course
    2. to cause to move in a winding or twisting course
  1. to introduce deviously; insinuate winding his prejudices through all his writings
  2. to hoist or haul by or as by winding rope on a winch: often with up
  3. to tighten the operating spring of (a clock, mechanical toy, etc.) by turning a stem or the like: often with up

Etymology: ME winden < OE windan, akin to ON vinda, Ger winden < IE base *wendh-, to turn, wind, twist > Arm gind, a ring

intransitive verb

  1. to move, go, or extend in a curving, zigzagging, or sinuous manner; meander
  2. to double on one's track, so as to throw off pursuers
  3. to take a circuitous, devious, or subtle course in behavior, argument, etc.
  4. to insinuate oneself
  5. to coil, twine, or spiral (about or around something)
  6. to warp or twist: said of wood
  7. to undergo winding a watch that winds easily

noun

  1. the act of winding
  2. a single turn of something wound
  3. a turn; twist; bend
wind Idioms

wind down

  1. to bring or come to an end; conclude
  2. to become relaxed, less tense, etc.; unwind

wind off

to unwind or remove by unwinding

wind up

  1. to wind into a ball, etc.
  2. to entangle or involve
  3. to bring or come to an end; conclude
  4. to make very tense, excited, etc.
  5. Baseball to use a windup () before pitching the ball
wind2 definition

wind (wind)

noun

  1. air in motion; specif.,
    1. any noticeable natural movement of air parallel to the earth's surface
    2. air artificially put in motion, as by an air pump or fan
  2. a strong, fast-moving, or destructive natural current of air; gale or storm
  3. the direction from which a wind blows: now chiefly in the four winds, with reference to the cardinal points of the compass
  4. a natural current of air regarded as a bearer of odors or scents, as in hunting to lose (the) wind of the fox
  5. figuratively, air regarded as bearing information, indicating trends, etc. a rumor that's in the wind
  6. breath or the power of breathing to get the wind knocked out of one
    1. idle or empty talk; nonsense
    2. bragging; pomposity; conceit
  7. gas in the stomach or intestines; flatulence
    1. the wind instruments of an orchestra, or the players of these instruments
    2. any of such instruments

Etymology: ME < OE, akin to ON vindr, Ger wind < IE *wentos (> L ventus) < base *we-, *awe-, to blow > weather

transitive verb

  1. to expose to the wind or air, as for drying; air
  2. to get or follow the scent of; scent
  3. to cause to be out of breath to be winded by a long run
  4. to rest (a horse, etc.) so as to allow recovery of breath

adjective

  1. designating a musical instrument sounded by blowing air through it, esp. a portable one sounded with the breath, as a flute, oboe, tuba, or trumpet
  2. composed of or for wind or woodwind instruments
wind Idioms

before the wind

with the wind coming from astern

between wind and water

  1. close to the waterline of a ship
  2. in a dangerous spot

break wind

to expel gas from the bowels

get one's wind up

or have one's wind up
to become (or be) nervous or alarmed

get (or have) wind of

to get (or have) information or a hint concerning; hear (or know) of

how the wind blows

or how the wind lies
what the trend of affairs, public opinion, etc. is

in the teeth of the wind

straight against the wind

in the wind

happening or about to happen

into the wind

in the direction from which the wind is blowing

off the wind

with the wind coming from behind

on the wind

approximately in the direction from which the wind is blowing

take the wind out of someone's sails

to deflate suddenly someone's enthusiasm, pride, etc., as by removing his or her advantage or nullifying his or her argument
wind3 definition

wind (wīnd, wind)

transitive verb, intransitive verb wound or Rarewinded wind′ed, winding wind′·ing

  1. to blow (a horn, etc.)
  2. to sound (a signal, etc.), as on a horn

Etymology: Early ModE < wind

Wind definition

Wind (wind)

river in WC Wyo., flowing southeast into the Bighorn: c. 110 mi (177 km)

Etymology: from the severe winds near its head

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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