Definition of 'wind'

wind air

(wɪnd )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense winds , present participle winding , past tense, past participle winded

1. variable noun

A wind is a current of air that is moving across the earth's surface.

There was a strong wind blowing.

Then the wind dropped and the surface of the sea was still.

The leaves rustled in the wind.

During the night a gust of wind had blown the pot over.

Synonyms: air, blast, breath, hurricane More Synonyms of wind

2. countable noun

Journalists often refer to a trend or factor that influences events as a wind of a particular kind.

The winds of change are blowing across the country. [+ of]

The world's entire aerospace industry is feeling the chill winds of recession.

3. verb

If you are winded by something such as a blow, the air is suddenly knocked out of your lungs so that you have difficulty breathing for a short time.

He was winded and shaken. [be VERB-ed]

The cow stamped on his side, winding him. [VERB noun]

4. uncountable noun

Wind is the air that you sometimes swallow with food or drink, or gas that is produced in your intestines, which causes an uncomfortable feeling.

5. verb

If you wind a baby, you hit its back gently in order to help it to release air from its stomach.

[British, informal]

If he cries when you put him down after a feed, try winding him. [VERB noun]

regional note: in AM, use burp

6. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

The wind section of an orchestra or band is the group of people who produce musical sounds by blowing into their instruments.

See to break wind

See to get wind of sth

See in the wind

10.

See to put the wind up sb

11.

See to sail close to the wind

12.

See to take the wind out of someone's sails

13.

See which way/how the wind is blowing

14. to throw caution to the wind

More Synonyms of wind

wind turning or wrapping

(waɪnd )

Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense winds , present participle winding , past tense, past participle wound

1. verb

If a road, river, or line of people winds in a particular direction, it goes in that direction with a lot of bends or twists in it.

The Moselle winds through some 160 miles of tranquil countryside. [VERB preposition/adverb]

The road winds uphill. [VERB preposition/adverb]

The procession wound its way downhill. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]

...a narrow winding road. [VERB-ing]

Synonyms: meander, turn, bend, twist More Synonyms of wind

2. verb

When you wind something flexible around something else, you wrap it around it several times.

The horse jumped forwards and round her, winding the rope round her waist. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]

3. verb

When you wind a mechanical device, for example a watch or a clock, you turn a knob, key, or handle on it several times in order to make it operate.

I still hadn't wound my watch so I didn't know the time. [VERB noun]

Wind up means the same as wind2.

I wound up the watch and listened to it tick. [VERB PARTICLE noun]

Frances took the tiny music box from her trunk and wound it up. [VERB noun PARTICLE]

4. verb

To wind a tape or film back or forward means to make it move towards its starting or ending position.

Now wind the film forward to what will happen if the next government doesn't solve the problem. [VERB noun adverb]

Phrasal verbs:

See wind down

See wind up

Video: pronunciation of
wind

wind in British English 1

(wɪnd )

noun

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 ▶ Related adjective: aeolian

2. mainly poetic

the direction from which a wind blows, usually a cardinal point of the compass

air artificially moved, as by a fan, pump, etc

any sweeping and destructive force

a trend, tendency, or force

the winds of revolution

6. informal

a hint; suggestion

we got wind that you were coming

something deemed insubstantial

his talk was all wind

breath, as used in respiration or talk

you're just wasting wind

(often used in sports) the power to breathe normally

his wind is weak

wind in British English 2

(waɪnd )

verbWord forms: winds, winding or wound

1. (often foll by 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. (transitive)

to twine, cover, or wreathe by or as if by coiling, wrapping, etc; encircle

we wound the body in a shroud

3. (transitive; often foll by up)

to tighten the spring of (a clockwork mechanism)

4. (transitive; foll by 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. (transitive)

to introduce indirectly or deviously

he is winding his own opinions into the report

7. (transitive)

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. (transitive)

to haul, lift, or hoist (a weight, etc) by means of a wind or windlass

10. (intransitive)

(of a board, etc) to be warped or twisted

11. (intransitive) archaic

to proceed deviously or indirectly

noun

12.

the act of winding or state of being wound

13.

a single turn, bend, etc

a wind in the river

14. Also called: winding

a twist in a board or plank

Derived forms

windable (ˈwindable)

adjective

Word origin

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

wind in British English 3

(waɪnd )

verbWord forms: winds, winding, winded or wound

(transitive) poetic

to blow (a note or signal) on (a horn, bugle, etc)

Word origin

C16: special use of wind1

Wind in American English

(wɪnd )

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

Word origin

from the severe winds near its head

wind in American English 1

(waɪnd )

verb transitiveWord forms: wound or Rareˈwinded, ˈwinding

to turn, or make revolve

to wind a crank

to move by or as if by cranking

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

to wrap or cover by encircling with something turned in the manner of a coil; entwine

to wind a spool with thread

to make (one's way) in a winding or twisting course

to cause to move in a winding or twisting course

to introduce deviously; insinuate

winding his prejudices through all his writings

to hoist or haul by or as by winding rope on a winch

often with up

to tighten the operating spring of (a clock, mechanical toy, etc.) by turning a stem or the like

often with up

verb intransitive

to move, go, or extend in a curving, zigzagging, or sinuous manner; meander

to double on one's track, so as to throw off pursuers

to take a circuitous, devious, or subtle course in behavior, argument, etc.

10.

to insinuate oneself

11.

to coil, twine, or spiral (about or around something)

12.

to warp or twist

said of wood

13.

to undergo winding

a watch that winds easily

noun

14.

the act of winding

15.

a single turn of something wound

16.

a turn; twist; bend

Idioms:

wind down

wind off

wind up

Word origin

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

wind in American English 2

(wɪnd )

noun

air in motion

; specif.,

any noticeable natural movement of air parallel to the earth's surface

air artificially put in motion, as by an air pump or fan

a strong, fast-moving, or destructive natural current of air; gale or storm

the direction from which a wind blows

now chiefly in the four winds, with reference to the cardinal points of the compass

a natural current of air regarded as a bearer of odors or scents, as in hunting

to lose (the) wind of the fox

figuratively, air regarded as bearing information, indicating trends, etc.

a rumor that's in the wind

breath or the power of breathing

to get the wind knocked out of one

idle or empty talk; nonsense

bragging; pomposity; conceit

gas in the stomach or intestines; flatulence

a. [pl.]

the wind instruments of an orchestra, or the players of these instruments

any of such instruments

verb transitive

10.

to expose to the wind or air, as for drying; air

11.

to get or follow the scent of; scent

12.

to cause to be out of breath

to be winded by a long run

13.

to rest (a horse, etc.) so as to allow recovery of breath

adjective

14.

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

15.

composed of or for wind or woodwind instruments

Idioms:

before the wind

between wind and water

break wind

get one's wind up

get (or have) wind of

how the wind blows

in the teeth of the wind

take the wind out of someone's sails

SYNONYMY NOTE: wind2 is the general term for any natural movement of air, whether of high or low velocity or great or little force; , breeze1 is popularly applied to a light, fresh wind and, meteorologically, to a wind having a velocity of from 4 to 31 miles an hour; , gale1 is popularly applied to a strong, somewhat violent wind and, meteorologically, to a wind having a velocity of from 32 to 63 miles an hour; , gust1, blast apply to sudden, brief winds, , gust1 suggesting a light puff, and , blast a driving rush, of air; , zephyr is a poetic term for a soft, gentle breeze

Word origin

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

wind in American English 3

(waɪnd ; wɪnd )

verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: wound or Rareˈwinded, ˈwinding OLD-FASHIONED, Poetic

to blow (a horn, etc.)

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

Word origin

Early ModE < wind2

wind in American English 1

(noun wɪnd, literary waind, verb wɪnd)

noun

air in natural motion, as that moving horizontally at any velocity along the earth's surface

A gentle wind blew through the valley. High winds were forecast

a gale; storm; hurricane

any stream of air, as that produced by a bellows or fan

air that is blown or forced to produce a musical sound in singing or playing an instrument

5. See wind instrument

wind instruments collectively

7. See the winds

breath or breathing

to catch one's wind

the power of breathing freely, as during continued exertion

10.

any influential force or trend

strong winds of public opinion

11.

a hint or intimation

to catch wind of a stock split

12.

air carrying an animal's odor or scent

13. See solar wind

14.

empty talk; mere words

15.

vanity; conceitedness

16.

gas generated in the stomach and intestines

17. Boxing slang

the pit of the stomach where a blow may cause a temporary shortness of breath; solar plexus

18.

any direction of the compass

19.

a state of unconcern, recklessness, or abandon

to throw all caution to the winds

20. See between wind and water

21. See break wind

22. See how the wind blows

23. See in the teeth of the wind

24. See in the wind

25. See off the wind

26. See on the wind

27. See sail close to the wind

28. See take the wind out of one's sails

transitive verb

29.

to expose to wind or air

30.

to follow by the scent

31.

to make short of wind or breath, as by vigorous exercise

32.

to let recover breath, as by resting after exertion

intransitive verb

33.

to catch the scent or odor of game

Word origin

[bef. 900; ME (n.), OE; c. D, G Wind, ON vindr, Goth winds, L ventus]

wind in American English 2

(waind) (verb wound or rare winded (ˌwaindɪd), winding)

intransitive verb

to change direction; bend; turn; take a frequently bending course; meander

The river winds through the forest

to have a circular or spiral course or direction

to coil or twine about something

The ivy winds around the house

to proceed circuitously or indirectly

to undergo winding or winding up

to be twisted or warped, as a board

transitive verb

to encircle or wreathe, as with something twined, wrapped, or placed about

8. (often fol. by up)

to roll or coil (thread, string, etc.) into a ball, on a spool, or the like

9. (usually fol. by off or from)

to remove or take off by unwinding

She wound the thread off the bobbin

10.

to twine, fold, wrap, or place about something

11. (often fol. by up)

to make (a mechanism) operational by tightening the mainspring with a key

to wind a clock

to wind up a toy

12. (often fol. by up)

to haul or hoist by means of a winch, windlass, or the like

13.

to make (one's or its way) in a bending or curving course

The stream winds its way through the woods

14.

to make (one's or its way) by indirect, stealthy, or devious procedure

to wind one's way into another's confidence

15. See wind down

16. See wind up

noun

17.

the act of winding

18.

a single turn, twist, or bend of something wound

If you give it another wind, you'll break the mainspring

19.

a twist producing an uneven surface

20. See out of wind

Word origin

[bef. 900; ME winden, OE windan; c. D, G winden, ON vinda, Goth -windan; akin to wend, wander]

wind in American English 3

(waind, wɪnd)

transitive verbWord forms: winded or wound, winding

to blow (a horn, a blast, etc.)

to sound by blowing

to signal or direct by blasts of the horn or the like

Word origin

[1375–1425; late ME; special use of wind1]

WInd in American English

West Indian

Also: W.Ind.

Examples of 'wind' in a sentence
wind

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This is made worse by a lack of wind to blow the dirty air away.Prepare for gale force winds in places.Energy was fire and wind and ocean waves.There is probably a change in the wind.Notwithstanding all these challenges, higher and degree apprenticeships have wind in their sails.But now we're going to wind the dial back the other way.I'm just trying to wind people up, get under their skin.WIND farms can cause stress and sleep loss for nearby residents, a Government review found.Why is it that sublime intentions often wind up looking ridiculous in reality?They both like to wind people up.

Quotations

It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good

Word lists with
wind

Weather phenomena

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