wind 1 (w nd)n.1. a. Moving air, especially a natural and perceptible movement of air parallel to or along the ground. b. A movement of air generated artificially, as by bellows or a fan. 2. a. The direction from which a movement of air comes: The wind is north-northwest. b. A movement of air coming from one of the four cardinal points of the compass: the four winds. 3. Moving air carrying sound, an odor, or a scent. 4. a. Breath, especially normal or adequate breathing; respiration: had the wind knocked out of them. b. Gas produced in the stomach or intestines during digestion; flatulence. 5. Music a. The brass and woodwinds sections of a band or orchestra. Often used in the plural. b. Wind instruments or their players considered as a group. Often used in the plural. c. Woodwinds. Often used in the plural. 6. a. Something that disrupts or destroys: the winds of war. b. A tendency; a trend: the winds of change. 7. Information, especially of something concealed; intimation: Trouble will ensue if wind of this scandal gets out. 8. a. Speech or writing empty of meaning; verbiage: His remarks on the subject are nothing but wind. b. Vain self-importance; pomposity: an expert who was full of wind even before becoming famous. tr.v. wind·ed, wind·ing, winds 1. To expose to free movement of air; ventilate or dry. 2. a. To detect the smell of; catch a scent of. b. To pursue by following a scent. 3. To cause to be out of or short of breath. 4. To afford a recovery of breath: stopped to wind and water the horses. Idioms: before the wind Nautical In the same direction as the wind. close to the wind Nautical As close as possible to the direction from which the wind is blowing. in the wind Likely to occur; in the offing: Big changes are in the wind. near the wind1. Nautical Close to the wind. 2. Close to danger. off the wind Nautical In a direction away from the wind. on/into/down the wind Nautical In the same or nearly the same direction as the wind. take the wind out of (one's) sails To rob of an advantage; deflate. under the wind1. Nautical To the leeward. 2. In a location protected from the wind. up the wind Nautical In a direction opposite or nearly opposite the wind.
[Middle English, from Old English; see w - in Indo-European roots.] |
wind 2 (w nd)v. wound (wound), wind·ing, winds v.tr.1. To wrap (something) around a center or another object once or repeatedly: wind string around a spool. 2. To wrap or encircle (an object) in a series of coils; entwine: wound her injured leg with a bandage; wound the waist of the gown with lace and ribbons. 3. a. To go along (a curving or twisting course): wind a path through the mountains. b. To proceed on (one's way) with a curving or twisting course. 4. To introduce in a disguised or devious manner; insinuate: He wound a plea for money into his letter. 5. To turn (a crank, for example) in a series of circular motions. 6. a. To coil the spring of (a mechanism) by turning a stem or cord, for example: wind a watch. b. To coil (thread, for example), as onto a spool or into a ball. c. To remove or unwind (thread, for example), as from a spool: wound the line off the reel. 7. To lift or haul by means of a windlass or winch: Wind the pail to the top of the well. v.intr.1. To move in or have a curving or twisting course: a river winding through a valley. 2. a. To move in or have a spiral or circular course: a column of smoke winding into the sky. b. To be coiled or spiraled: The vine wound about the trellis. 3. To be twisted or whorled into curved forms. 4. To proceed misleadingly or insidiously in discourse or conduct. 5. To become wound: a clock that winds with difficulty. n.1. The act of winding. 2. A single turn, twist, or curve. Phrasal Verbs: wind down Informal 1. To diminish gradually in energy, intensity, or scope: The party wound down as guests began to leave. 2. To relax; unwind. wind up1. To come or bring to a finish; end: when the meeting wound up; wind up a project. 2. To put in order; settle: wound up her affairs before leaving the country. 3. Informal To arrive in a place or situation after or because of a course of action: took a long walk and wound up at the edge of town; overspent and wound up in debt. 4. Baseball To swing back the arm and raise the foot in preparation for pitching the ball.
[Middle English winden, from Old English windan.] |
wind down Verb
1. to move downwards by turning a handle: he wound down the rear window
2. (of a clock or watch) to slow down before stopping completely
3. to relax after a stressful or tiring time: I have not had a chance to wind down from a busy day
4. to diminish gradually: trading wound down for the day
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