English Dictionary

Definition of “wind”

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1wind1 (wɪndPronunciation for wind1) 

Definitions

noun

  1. a current of air, sometimes of considerable force, moving generally horizontally from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure See also Beaufort scale aeolian
  2. mainly poetic the direction from which a wind blows, usually a cardinal point of the compass
  3. air artificially moved, as by a fan, pump, etc
  4. any sweeping and destructive force
  5. a trend, tendency, or force  ⇒ the winds of revolution 
  6. informal a hint; suggestion  ⇒ we got wind that you were coming 
  7. something deemed insubstantial  ⇒ his talk was all wind 
  8. breath, as used in respiration or talk  ⇒ you're just wasting wind 
  9. (often used in sports) the power to breathe normally  ⇒ his wind is weak See also second wind
  10. music 
    1. a wind instrument or wind instruments considered collectively
    2. (often plural) the musicians who play wind instruments in an orchestra
    3. (modifier) of, relating to, or composed of wind instruments  ⇒ a wind ensemble 
  11. an informal name for flatus
  12. the air on which the scent of an animal is carried to hounds or on which the scent of a hunter is carried to his quarry
  13. See between wind and water
  14. See break wind
  15. See get the wind up
  16. See have in the wind
  17. See how the wind blows
  18. See in the wind
  19. See three sheets in the wind
  20. See in the teeth of the wind
  21. See into the wind
  22. See off the wind
  23. See on the wind
  24. See put the wind up
  25. See raise the wind
  26. See sail close to the wind
  27. See take the wind out of someone's sails

verb (tr)

  1. to cause (someone) to be short of breath  ⇒ the blow winded him 
    1. to detect the scent of
    2. to pursue (quarry) by following its scent
  3. to cause (a baby) to bring up wind after feeding by patting or rubbing on the back
  4. to expose to air, as in drying, ventilating, etc

Alternative Forms

ˈwindless adjective ˈwindlessly adverb ˈwindlessness noun

Word Origin

Old English wind;  related to Old High German wint,  Old Norse vindr,  Gothic winds,  Latin ventus

2wind2 (waɪndPronunciation for wind2) 

Definitions

verb

Word forms: winds, winding, wound
  1. around, about, or upon to turn or coil (string, cotton, etc) around some object or point or (of string, etc) to be turned etc, around some object or point  ⇒ he wound a scarf around his head 
  2. (tr) to twine, cover, or wreathe by or as if by coiling, wrapping, etc; encircle  ⇒ we wound the body in a shroud 
  3. (tr) up to tighten the spring of (a clockwork mechanism)
  4. (tr) off to remove by uncoiling or unwinding
  5. (usually intr) to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course  ⇒ the river winds through the hills 
  6. (tr) to introduce indirectly or deviously  ⇒ he is winding his own opinions into the report 
  7. (tr) to cause to twist or revolve  ⇒ he wound the handle 
  8. (tr; usually foll by up or down) to move by cranking  ⇒ please wind up the window 
  9. (tr) to haul, lift, or hoist (a weight, etc) by means of a wind or windlass
  10. (intr) (of a board, etc) to be warped or twisted
  11. (intr) archaic to proceed deviously or indirectly

noun

  1. the act of winding or state of being wound
  2. a single turn, bend, etc  ⇒ a wind in the river 
  3. windinga twist in a board or plank

See also

wind down , wind up

Alternative Forms

ˈwindable adjective

Word Origin

Old English windan;  related to Old Norse vinda,  Old High German wintan  (German winden)

3wind3 (waɪndPronunciation for wind3) 

Definitions

verb

Word forms: winds, winding, winded, wound
  1. (tr) poetic to blow (a note or signal) on (a horn, bugle, etc)

Word Origin

C16: special use of windC16: special use of 1

Quotations

  • "It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good"

Translations

  • British English: wind Pronunciation for wind Wind is air that moves.wɪnd NOUN
  • Spanish: viento Pronunciation for viento nm
  • French: vent Pronunciation for vent nm
  • German: Wind Pronunciation for Wind nm
  • Chinese: 风Pronunciation for 风 n
  • Arabic: رِيحPronunciation for رِيح n
  • Portuguese: ventoPronunciation for vento nm
  • Russian: ветерPronunciation for ветер nm
  • Croatian: vjetarPronunciation for vjetar nm
  • Czech: vítrPronunciation for vítr nm
  • Danish: vindPronunciation for vind nutr
  • Dutch: windPronunciation for wind nm
  • Finnish: tuuliPronunciation for tuuli n
  • Greek: άνεμοςPronunciation for άνεμος nm
  • Italian: ventoPronunciation for vento nm
  • Japanese: 風Pronunciation for 風 n
  • Korean: 바람Pronunciation for 바람 n
  • Norwegian: vindPronunciation for vind nm
  • Polish: wiatrPronunciation for wiatr nm
  • Brazilian Portuguese: ventoPronunciation for vento nm
  • European Spanish: viento Pronunciation for viento nm
  • Swedish: vindPronunciation for vind nutr
  • Thai: ลมPronunciation for ลม n
  • Turkish: rüzgarPronunciation for rüzgar n
  • Vietnamese: gióPronunciation for gió n
  • British English: wind Pronunciation for wind If you are winded by something, you have difficulty breathing for a short time.Two kicks in the stomach winded him.wɪnd VERB Two kicks in the stomach winded him.
  • Spanish: enroscar Pronunciation for enroscar v
  • French: enrouler Pronunciation for enrouler vt
  • German: winden Pronunciation for winden v
  • Chinese: 绕Pronunciation for 绕 v
  • Arabic: يَهْويPronunciation for يَهْوي v
  • Portuguese: enrolarPronunciation for enrolar v
  • Russian: заводитьPronunciation for заводить v
  • Croatian: uvijatiPronunciation for uvijati v
  • Czech: zadýchat (se)Pronunciation for zadýchat (se) v zadýchávat (se)
  • Danish: sno (sig)Pronunciation for sno (sig) v
  • Dutch: opwindenPronunciation for opwinden v
  • Finnish: saada hengästymäänPronunciation for saada hengästymään v
  • Greek: κουρδίζωPronunciation for κουρδίζω v
  • Italian: avvolgerePronunciation for avvolgere v
  • Japanese: 巻くPronunciation for 巻く v
  • Korean: 감다Pronunciation for 감다 v
  • Norwegian: viklePronunciation for vikle v
  • Polish: nawinąćPronunciation for nawinąć v nawijać
  • Brazilian Portuguese: ficar sem arPronunciation for ficar sem ar v
  • European Spanish: enroscar Pronunciation for enroscar v
  • Swedish: vridaPronunciation for vrida v
  • Thai: พันPronunciation for พัน v
  • Turkish: esmekPronunciation for esmek v
  • Vietnamese: uốn lượnPronunciation for uốn lượn v
  • British English: wind If a road or river winds, it twists and turns.waɪnd VERB
  • French: sinueux adj sinueuse
  • Arabic: يَتَلَوَّى v
  • Brazilian Portuguese: girar vi
  • British English: wind When you wind something long around something, you wrap it around several times.She wound the rope around her waist.waɪnd VERB She wound the rope around her waist.
  • French: enrouler vt
  • Arabic: يَلُفُّ v
  • Brazilian Portuguese: enrolar vt

Usage examples

  • Malone leaned across and banged on the window and the pigeons took off, caught at once by the wind.
    Jon Cleary, YESTERDAY'S SHADOW (2002)
  • Beaten by storms, salt and swell, the land is naked, tufts of grass fluttering in the bone-cold wind.
    Country Life (2004)
  • Still, the pressure was now on Dundalk to convert the wind advantage into scores.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • But it's a theory more seriously wind and rainswept than that.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • The sun will rise, the rain will fall, and the wind will blow, all indifferent to our pleas and threats.
    Dorothy Rowe, BEYOND FEAR (2002)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'W'

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