When you wind down something such as the window of a car, you make it move downwards by turning a handle.
Glass motioned to him to wind down the window. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
If a stranger stops you, just wind the window down a fraction. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
2. phrasal verb
If you wind down, you relax after doing something that has made you feel tired or tense.
[informal]
I regularly have a drink to wind down. [VERBPARTICLE]
3. phrasal verb
If someone winds down a business or activity, they gradually reduce the amount of work that is done or the number of people that are involved, usuallybefore closing or stopping it completely.
Foreign aid workers have already begun winding down their operation. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
In 1991 the Ada plant began to wind down. [VERBPARTICLE]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]
More Synonyms of wind down
See full dictionary entry for wind
wind down in British English
(waɪnd)
verb(adverb)
1. (transitive)
to lower or move down by cranking
2. (intransitive)
(of a clock spring) to become slack
3. (intransitive)
to diminish gradually in force or power; relax
wind down in American English
1.
to bring or come to an end; conclude
2.
to become relaxed, less tense, etc.; unwind
See full dictionary entry for wind
Examples of 'wind down' in a sentence
wind down
The visibility had improved slightly, maybe to three miles, the wind down to eight knots - a lazy, hazy day.
Terman, Douglas CORMORANT
As though if they let themselves wind down they'd be out of the race against time.
Mosco, Maisie OUT OF THE ASHES
After the mid-morning burst of activity Blackwell had begun to wind down towards dinner.
Magnus Mills THE SCHEME FOR FULL EMPLOYMENT (2003)
A second later the engines began to wind down, reverting to a preset power setting.
James W. Hall BLACKWATER SOUND (2003)
Chinese translation of 'wind down'
wind down
vt
[window]摇(搖)下 (yáoxià)
(= cut back)[activity]逐步减(減)少 (zhúbù jiǎnshǎo)
See wind2
Nearby words of
wind down
win round
wince
wind
wind down
wind instrument
wind power
wind up
Related terms of
wind down
wind up
1 (phrasal verb)
Definition
to relax after a stressful or tiring time
I need a cup of tea to help me wind down.
Synonyms
calm down
unwind
It helps them to unwind after a busy day at work.
take it easy
unbutton (informal)
put your feet up
de-stress (informal)
outspan (South Africa)
Let's take a break and just outspan for a while.
cool down or off
2 (phrasal verb)
Definition
to diminish gradually
The storm was winding down at long last.
Synonyms
subside
The pain had subsided during the night.
decline
a declining birth rate
diminish
The threat of war has diminished.
come to an end
dwindle
The factory's workforce has dwindled.
tail off
taper off
The fighting has begun to taper off.
slacken off
reduce
Consumption is being reduced by 25 per cent.
lessen
The burden will lessen if you ask someone for help.
slacken
Inflationary pressures continued to slacken last month.
See wind
Additional synonyms
in the sense of decline
Definition
to become smaller, weaker, or less important
a declining birth rate
Synonyms
fall,
fail,
drop,
contract,
lower,
sink,
flag,
fade,
shrink,
diminish,
decrease,
slow down,
fall off,
dwindle,
lessen,
wane,
ebb,
slacken
in the sense of diminish
Definition
to make or become smaller, fewer, or less
The threat of war has diminished.
Synonyms
decrease,
decline,
lessen,
contract,
weaken,
shrink,
dwindle,
wane,
recede,
subside,
ebb,
taper,
die out,
fade away,
abate,
peter out
in the sense of dwindle
Definition
to grow less in size, strength, or number
The factory's workforce has dwindled.
Synonyms
lessen,
fall,
decline,
contract,
sink,
fade,
weaken,
shrink,
diminish,
decrease,
decay,
wither,
wane,
subside,
ebb,
die down,
die out,
abate,
shrivel,
peter out,
die away,
waste away,
taper off,
grow less
Nearby words of
wind down
win through
wince
wind
wind down
wind someone up
wind something down
wind something up
Related terms of
wind down
wind something down
Synonyms of 'wind down'
wind down
Explore 'wind down' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of lessen
Definition
to make or become less
The burden will lessen if you ask someone for help.
Synonyms
grow less,
diminish,
decrease,
contract,
ease,
weaken,
shrink,
slow down,
dwindle,
lighten,
wind down,
die down,
abate,
slacken
in the sense of outspan
Definition
to relax
Let's take a break and just outspan for a while.
Synonyms
relax,
chill out (slang, US),
take it easy,
loosen up,
laze,
lighten up (slang),
put your feet up,
hang loose (slang),
let yourself go (informal),
let your hair down (informal),
mellow out (informal),
make yourself at home
in the sense of reduce
Definition
to weaken or lessen
Consumption is being reduced by 25 per cent.
Synonyms
lessen,
cut,
contract,
lower,
depress,
moderate,
dial down,
weaken,
diminish,
turn down,
decrease,
slow down,
cut down,
shorten,
dilute,
impair,
curtail,
wind down,
abate,
tone down,
debase,
truncate,
abridge,
downsize,
downscale,
kennet (Australian, slang),
jeff (Australian, slang)
in the sense of slacken
Definition
to make or become slower or less intense
Inflationary pressures continued to slacken last month.