wire
(wīr)n.1. a. Metal that has been drawn out into a strand or rod, used chiefly for structural support, as in concrete, and for conducting electricity, when it is usually insulated with a rubber or plastic cladding: bought some wire at the hardware store.
b. A strand or rod of such material, or a cable made of such strands twisted together.
c. Fencing made of wire, especially barbed wire.
d. wires The system of strings employed in manipulating puppets in a show.
2. Slang A hidden microphone, as on a person's body or in a building.
3. a. A telephone or telegraph connection: Who is on the wire?
b. A telegraph service: sent the message by wire.
c. A telegram or cablegram: "Mac got a wire from Milly that Uncle Tim was dead" (John Dos Passos).
d. A wire service: The news came over the wire.
4. A pin in the print head of a computer printer.
5. The screen on which sheets of paper are formed in a papermaking machine.
6. Sports The finish line of a racetrack.
7. Slang A pickpocket.
v. wired, wir·ing, wires
v.tr.1. a. To equip with a system of electrical wires: wire a house.
b. To attach or connect with electrical wire or cable: Is the printer wired to the computer?
c. To attach or fasten with wire: Surgeons wired his shoulder together.
2. Slang To install electronic eavesdropping equipment in (a room, for example).
3. a. To send by telegraph: wired her congratulations.
b. To send a telegram to (someone).
4. Computers To implement (a capability) through logic circuitry that is permanently connected within a computer or calculator and therefore not subject to change by programming.
5. To determine genetically; hardwire: "It is plausible that the basic organization of grammar is wired into the child's brain" (Steven Pinker).
v.intr. To send a telegram.
Idioms: down to the wire Informal To the very end, as in a race or contest.
under the wire1. Sports At the finish line.
2. Informal Just in the nick of time; at the last moment.
wir′a·ble adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
wire
(waɪə) n1. (Metallurgy) a slender flexible strand or rod of metal
2. (Metallurgy) a cable consisting of several metal strands twisted together
3. (Electrical Engineering) a flexible metallic conductor, esp one made of copper, usually insulated, and used to carry electric current in a circuit
4. (Metallurgy) (modifier) of, relating to, or made of wire: a wire fence; a wire stripper.
5. (Electrical Engineering) (modifier) of, relating to, or made of wire: a wire fence; a wire stripper.
6. (Metallurgy) anything made of wire, such as wire netting, a barbed-wire fence, etc
7. (Telecommunications) a long continuous wire or cable connecting points in a telephone or telegraph system
8. (Telecommunications)
old-fashioned 9. (Instruments) a metallic string on a guitar, piano, etc
10. (Horse Racing) horse racing chiefly US and Canadian the finishing line on a racecourse
11. (Mechanical Engineering) a wire-gauze screen upon which pulp is spread to form paper during the manufacturing process
12. anything resembling a wire, such as a hair
13. (Hunting) a snare made of wire for rabbits and similar animals
14. to the wire down to the wire informal right up to the last moment
15. get in under the wire informal chiefly US and Canadian to accomplish something with little time to spare
16. get one's wires crossed informal to misunderstand
17. pull wires chiefly US and Canadian to exert influence behind the scenes, esp through personal connections; pull strings
18. (General Sporting Terms) take it to the wire to compete to the bitter end to win a competition or title
vb (
mainly tr)
19. (Telecommunications) (also intr) to send a telegram to (a person or place)
20. (Telecommunications) to send (news, a message, etc) by telegraph
21. (Electrical Engineering) to equip (an electrical system, circuit, or component) with wires
22. (Metallurgy) to fasten or furnish with wire
23. (Broadcasting) (often foll by up) to provide (an area) with fibre-optic cabling to receive cable television
24. (Jewellery) to string (beads, etc) on wire
25. (Croquet) croquet to leave (a player's ball) so that a hoop or peg lies between it and the other balls
26. (Hunting) to snare with wire
27. wire in informal to set about (something, esp food) with enthusiasm
[Old English wīr; related to Old High German wiara, Old Norse vīra, Latin viriae bracelet]
ˈwireˌlike adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
wire
(waɪər)
n., adj., v. wired, wir•ing. n. 1. a slender, stringlike piece or filament of metal.
2. such pieces as a material.
3. a length of such material used as a conductor of current in electrical, cable, telegraph, or telephone systems.
4. a cross hair.
5. a. a telegram.
b. the telegraphic system: to send a message by wire.
6. wires, a system of wires by which puppets are moved.
7. Naut. a wire rope.
8. a wire stretched across and above the track at the finish line of a racetrack.
9. the woven wire mesh over which the wet pulp is spread in a papermaking machine.
10. the wire, the telephone: There's someone on the wire for you.
adj. 11. made of wire; consisting of or constructed with wires.
v.t. 12. to furnish, fit, fasten, or bind with wire or wires.
13. to install an electric system of wiring in, as for lighting.
14. to send by telegraph.
15. to send a message to by telegraph.
16. to connect (a receiver, area, or building) to a television cable and other equipment so that cable television programs may be received.
v.i. 17. to send a telegraphic message; telegraph.
Idioms: 1. down to the wire, to the very last moment or the very end.
2. under the wire, just within the limit or deadline; scarcely; barely.
[before 900; Middle English wir(e) (n.), Old English wīr, c. Middle Low German wīre, Old Norse vīra- wire]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.