- wind
- windwind1 [wīnd]vt.wound or Rare winded, winding [ME winden < OE windan, akin to ON vinda, Ger winden < IE base * wendh-, to turn, wind, twist > Arm gind, a ring]1.a) to turn, or make revolve [to wind a crank]b) to move by or as if by cranking2.a) 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]b) to wrap or cover by encircling with something turned in the manner of a coil; entwine [to wind a spool with thread]3.a) to make (one's way) in a winding or twisting courseb) to cause to move in a winding or twisting course4. to introduce deviously; insinuate [winding his prejudices through all his writings]5. to hoist or haul by or as by winding rope on a winch: often with up6. to tighten the operating spring of (a clock, mechanical toy, etc.) by turning a stem or the like: often with upvi.1. to move, go, or extend in a curving, zigzagging, or sinuous manner; meander2. to double on one's track, so as to throw off pursuers3. to take a circuitous, devious, or subtle course in behavior, argument, etc.4. to insinuate oneself5. to coil, twine, or spiral (about or around something)6. to warp or twist: said of wood7. to undergo winding [a watch that winds easily]n.1. the act of winding2. a single turn of something wound3. a turn; twist; bend——————wind down1. to bring or come to an end; conclude2. to become relaxed, less tense, etc.; unwind——————wind offto unwind or remove by unwinding——————wind up1. to wind into a ball, etc.2. to entangle or involve3. to bring or come to an end; conclude4. to make very tense, excited, etc.☆ 5. Baseball to use a WINDUP (n. 2) before pitching the ballwind2 [wind]n.[ME < OE, akin to ON vindr, Ger wind < IE * wentos (> L ventus) < base * we-, * awe-, to blow > WEATHER]1. air in motion; specif.,a) any noticeable natural movement of air parallel to the earth's surface: see the Beaufort scale in the Reference Supplementb) air artificially put in motion, as by an air pump or fan2. a strong, fast-moving, or destructive natural current of air; gale or storm3. the direction from which a wind blows: now chiefly in the four winds, with reference to the cardinal points of the compass4. a natural current of air regarded as a bearer of odors or scents, as in hunting [to lose (the) wind of the fox]5. figuratively, air regarded as bearing information, indicating trends, etc. [a rumor that's in the wind]6. breath or the power of breathing [to get the wind knocked out of one]7.a) idle or empty talk; nonsenseb) bragging; pomposity; conceit8. gas in the stomach or intestines; flatulence9.a) [pl.] the wind instruments of an orchestra, or the players of these instrumentsb) any of such instrumentsvt.1. to expose to the wind or air, as for drying; air2. to get or follow the scent of; scent3. to cause to be out of breath [to be winded by a long run]4. to rest (a horse, etc.) so as to allow recovery of breathadj.1. designating a musical instrument sounded by blowing air through it, esp. a portable one sounded with the breath, as a flute, oboe, tuba, or trumpet2. composed of or for wind or woodwind instruments——————before the windwith the wind coming from astern——————between wind and water1. close to the waterline of a ship2. in a dangerous spot——————break windto expel gas from the bowels——————get one's wind up or have one's wind upto become (or be) nervous or alarmed——————get wind of or have wind ofto get (or have) information or a hint concerning; hear (or know) of——————how the wind blows or how the wind lieswhat the trend of affairs, public opinion, etc. is——————in the teeth of the windstraight against the wind: also in the wind's eye——————in the windhappening or about to happen——————into the windin the direction from which the wind is blowing——————off the windwith the wind coming from behind——————on the windapproximately in the direction from which the wind is blowing——————take the wind out of someone's sailsto deflate suddenly someone's enthusiasm, pride, etc., as by removing his or her advantage or nullifying his or her argumentSYN.- 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 and 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 breezewind3 [wīnd, wind]vt., vi.wound or Rare winded, winding [Early ModE < WIND2] Old Poet.1. to blow (a horn, etc.)2. to sound (a signal, etc.), as on a horn
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.
