Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense 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 windof 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. [beVERB-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 soundsby blowing into their instruments.
7.
See to break wind
8.
See to get wind of sth
9.
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 presenttense 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. [VERBPARTICLE 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 solvethe problem. [VERB noun adverb]
Phrasal verbs:
See wind down
See wind up
wind in British English1
(wɪnd)
noun
1.
a current of air, sometimes of considerable force, moving generally horizontally from areas of high pressure to areas of lowpressure
See also Beaufort scale ▶ Related adjective: 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
a.
a wind instrument or wind instruments considered collectively
b. (often plural)
the musicians who play wind instruments in an orchestra
c. (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 the quarry
13. between wind and water
14. break wind
15. get the wind up
16. have in the wind
17. how the wind blows
18. in the teeth of the wind
19. in the wind
20. into the wind
21. off the wind
22. on the wind
23. put the wind up
24. raise the wind
25. sail close to the wind
26. take the wind out of someone's sails
27. three sheets to the wind
verb(transitive)
28.
to cause (someone) to be short of breath
the blow winded him
29.
a.
to detect the scent of
b.
to pursue (quarry) by following its scent
30.
to cause (a baby) to bring up wind after feeding by patting or rubbing on the back
31.
to expose to air, as in drying, ventilating, etc
Derived forms
windless (ˈwindless)
adjective
windlessly (ˈwindlessly)
adverb
windlessness (ˈwindlessness)
noun
Word origin
Old English wind; related to Old High German wint, Old Norse vindr, Gothic winds, Latin ventus
wind in British English2
(waɪnd)
verbWord forms: winds, winding or wound
1. (often foll byaround, about, or upon)
to turn or coil (string, cotton, etc) around some object or point or (of string, etc) to be turnedetc, 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 byup)
to tighten the spring of (a clockwork mechanism)
4. (transitive; foll byoff)
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 English3
(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 English1
(waɪnd)
verb transitiveWord forms: wound or Rareˈwinded, ˈwinding
1.
a.
to turn, or make revolve
to wind a crank
b.
to move by or as if by cranking
2.
a.
to turn or coil (string, ribbon, etc.) around itself to form a ball or around something else so as to encircle itclosely; 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 course
b.
to cause to move in a winding or twisting course
4.
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 up
6.
to tighten the operating spring of (a clock, mechanical toy, etc.) by turning a stem or the like
often with up
verb intransitive
7.
to move, go, or extend in a curving, zigzagging, or sinuous manner; meander
8.
to double on one's track, so as to throw off pursuers
9.
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 English2
(wɪnd)
noun
1.
air in motion
; specif.,
a.
any noticeable natural movement of air parallel to the earth's surface
b.
air artificially put in motion, as by an air pump or fan
2.
a strong, fast-moving, or destructive natural current of air; gale or storm
3.
the direction from which a wind blows
now chiefly in the four winds, with reference to the cardinal points of the compass
4.
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; nonsense
b.
bragging; pomposity; conceit
8.
gas in the stomach or intestines; flatulence
9.
a. [pl.]
the wind instruments of an orchestra, or the players of these instruments
b.
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
in the wind
into the wind
off the wind
on 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 velocityor great or little force; , breeze1 is popularly applied to a light, fresh wind and, meteorologically, to a wind havinga velocity of from 4 to 31 miles an hour; , gale1 is popularly applied to a strong, somewhat violent wind and, meteorologically, toa 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