Definition of 'wind'

Word Frequency

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

Word Frequency

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)

Word Frequency

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

Word Frequency

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

Word Frequency

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

Word Frequency

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

Word Frequency

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

Example sentences including
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.