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.
wind instrument.
wind instruments collectively.
the winds,the members of an orchestra or band who play the wind instruments.
breath or breathing: to catch one's wind.
the power of breathing freely, as during continued exertion.
any influential force or trend: strong winds of public opinion.
a hint or intimation: to catch wind of a stock split.
air carrying an animal's odor or scent.
solar wind.
empty talk; mere words.
vanity; conceitedness.
gas generated in the stomach and intestines.
BoxingSlang. the pit of the stomach where a blow may cause a temporary shortness of breath; solar plexus.
any direction of the compass.
verb (used with object)
to expose to wind or air.
to follow by the scent.
to make short of wind or breath, as by vigorous exercise.
to let recover breath, as by resting after exertion.
verb (used without object)
to catch the scent or odor of game.
Idioms for wind
between wind and water,
(of a ship) at or near the water line.
in a vulnerable or precarious spot: In her profession one is always between wind and water.
break wind, to expel gas from the stomach and bowels through the anus.
how the wind blows / lies, what the tendency or probability is: Try to find out how the wind blows.Also which way the wind blows .
in the teeth of the wind, sailing directly into the wind; against the wind.Also in the eye of the wind,in the wind's eye .
in the wind, about to occur; imminent; impending: There's good news in the wind.
off the wind,
away from the wind; with the wind at one's back.
(of a sailing vessel) headed into the wind with sails shaking or aback.
on the wind, as close as possible to the wind.Also on a wind .
sail close to the wind,
Also sail close on a wind .to sail as nearly as possible in the direction from which the wind is blowing.
to practice economy in the management of one's affairs.
to verge on a breach of propriety or decency.
to escape (punishment, detection, etc.) by a narrow margin; take a risk.
take the wind out of one's sails, to surprise someone, especially with unpleasant news; stun; shock; flabbergast: She took the wind out of his sails when she announced she was marrying someone else.
throw / cast something to the wind(s), to dispense with or relinquish something characteristic of one’s habits or behavior in favor of something uncharacteristic, regardless of the possible consequences: I decided to throw caution to the wind and quit my job to become a full-time writer.
Origin of wind
1
First recorded before 900; Middle English (noun), Old English; cognate with Dutch, German Wind, Old Norse vindr, Gothic winds, Latin ventus
SYNONYMS FOR wind
16 flatulence.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR wind ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for wind
1. Wind,air,zephyr,breeze,blast,gust refer to a quantity of air set in motion naturally. Wind applies to any such air in motion, blowing with whatever degree of gentleness or violence. Air, usually poetical, applies to a very gentle motion of the air. Zephyr, also poetical, refers to an air characterized by its soft, mild quality. A breeze is usually a cool, light wind. Blast and gust apply to quick, forceful winds of short duration; blast implies a violent rush of air, often a cold one, whereas a gust is little more than a flurry.
verb (used without object),wound or (Rare) wind·ed[wahyn-did]; /ˌwaɪn dɪd/; wind·ing.
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.
verb (used with object),wound or (Rare) wind·ed[wahyn-did]; /ˌwaɪn dɪd/; wind·ing.
to encircle or wreathe, as with something twined, wrapped, or placed about.
to roll or coil (thread, string, etc.) into a ball, on a spool, or the like (often followed by up).
to remove or take off by unwinding (usually followed by off or from): She wound the thread off the bobbin.
to twine, fold, wrap, or place about something.
to make (a mechanism) operational by tightening the mainspring with a key (often followed by up): to wind a clock; to wind up a toy.
to haul or hoist by means of a winch, windlass, or the like (often followed by up).
to make (one's or its way) in a bending or curving course: The stream winds its way through the woods.
to make (one's or its way) by indirect, stealthy, or devious procedure: to wind one's way into another's confidence.
noun
the act of winding.
a single turn, twist, or bend of something wound: If you give it another wind, you'll break the mainspring.
a twist producing an uneven surface.
Verb Phrases
wind down,
to lessen in intensity so as to bring or come to a gradual end: The war is winding down.
to calm down; relax: He's too excited tonight to wind down and sleep.
wind up,
to bring to a state of great tension; excite (usually used in the past participle): He was all wound up before the game.
to bring or come to an end; conclude: to wind up a sales campaign.
to settle or arrange in order to conclude: to wind up one's affairs.
to become ultimately: to wind up as a country schoolteacher.
Baseball.(of a pitcher) to execute a windup.
Origin of wind
2
First recorded before 900; Middle English winden, Old English windan; cognate with Dutch, German winden, Old Norse vinda, Gothic -windan; akin to wend, wander
Definition for wind (3 of 4)
wind3
[ wahynd, wind ]
/ waɪnd, wɪnd /
verb (used with object),wind·ed[wahyn-did, win-did] /ˈwaɪn dɪd, ˈwɪn dɪd/ or wound[wound]; /waʊnd/; wind·ing[wahyn-ding, win-ding]. /ˈwaɪn dɪŋ, ˈwɪn dɪŋ/.
to blow (a horn, a blast, etc.).
to sound by blowing.
to signal or direct by blasts of the horn or the like.
Origin of wind
3
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English; special use of wind1
High winds broke branches above the water and stripped off their leaves.
Soggy coastal soils? Here’s why ecologists love them|Alison Pearce Stevens|September 17, 2020|Science News For Students
If those wind patterns themselves stall, slow down dramatically, or change directions rather abruptly, the hurricane will be sort of directionless and it can sit there stalling.
Slow, meandering hurricanes are often more dangerous—and they’re getting more common|Greta Moran|September 9, 2020|Popular Science
That event may take the wind out of the traditional Cyberweek sales if people spend their money early.
A Corona Xmas: Why physical stores will power online shopping this holiday season|Greg Sterling|September 4, 2020|Search Engine Land
When winds from the north dominated, and there was more sea ice, there was less oxygen-18 in the cellulose.
Bering Sea winter ice shrank to its lowest level in 5,500 years in 2018|Carolyn Gramling|September 3, 2020|Science News
Researchers say still don’t know what whipped up this newly discovered wind event.
Here’s the summer science you might have missed|Janet Raloff|September 1, 2020|Science News For Students
Increasingly, as these industries develop, on-site solar and wind is a way of guaranteeing a lower price for electricity.
Solar Powered Ski Lift|The Daily Beast|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One and all, they come shaking their tin cups at election time then run like the wind when a critical vote comes up.
How the Lame Democrats Blew It|Goldie Taylor|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For instance: suppose the Republicans wind up with a clear Senate majority on November 4th.
Election Day In The Big Sleazy|Jeff Greenfield|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But then they saw which way the post-Citizens United wind was blowing and became anti-disclosure.
Dark Money and Our Looming Oligarchy|Michael Tomasky|October 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As combat operations in Afghanistan wind down, so too does the main driver of NATO defense cooperation.
Shocked by Ukraine Violence, NATO Prepares to Face Down Putin|Leo Cendrowicz|October 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The road was hard and dry as there was a high March wind, although not at present a cold one.
The Red Cross Girls with Pershing to Victory|Margaret Vandercook
We took the wind through the night, and in the morning we were eighty miles from Corfu, which I determined to reach by rowing.
The Memoires of Casanova, Complete|Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
The willows,” he says, “bow themselves to every wind, out of shame for their unfruitfulness.
Rubiyt of Omar Khayym and Salmn and Absl|Omar Khayym and Ralph Waldo Emerson
At length we returned to our vessel, which had triumphantly fought the wind and floating trees.
Strange True Stories of Louisiana|George Washington Cable
The deep stillness, or the unintermitted hollow blowing of the wind (according to the weather) are equally mournful.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol 58, No. 357, July 1845|Various
British Dictionary definitions for wind (1 of 3)
wind1
/ (wɪnd) /
noun
a current of air, sometimes of considerable force, moving generally horizontally from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressureSee also Beaufort scale Related adjective: aeolian
mainlypoeticthe 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 forcethe winds of revolution
informala hint; suggestionwe got wind that you were coming
something deemed insubstantialhis talk was all wind
breath, as used in respiration or talkyou're just wasting wind
(often used in sports) the power to breathe normallyhis wind is weak See also second wind
music
a wind instrument or wind instruments considered collectively
(often plural)the musicians who play wind instruments in an orchestra
(modifier)of, relating to, or composed of wind instrumentsa wind ensemble
an informal name for flatus
the air on which the scent of an animal is carried to hounds or on which the scent of a hunter is carried to his quarry
between wind and water
the part of a vessel's hull below the water line that is exposed by rolling or by wave action
any point particularly susceptible to attack or injury
break windto release intestinal gas through the anus
get the wind uporhave the wind upinformalto become frightened
have in the windto be in the act of following (quarry) by scent
how the wind blows, how the wind lies, which way the wind blowsorwhich way the wind lieswhat appears probable
in the windabout to happen
three sheets in the windinformalintoxicated; drunk
in the teeth of the windorin the eye of the winddirectly into the wind
into the windagainst the wind or upwind
off the windnauticalaway from the direction from which the wind is blowing
on the windnauticalas near as possible to the direction from which the wind is blowing
put the wind upinformalto frighten or alarm
raise the windBritishinformalto obtain the necessary funds
sail close to the windorsail near to the wind
to come near the limits of danger or indecency
to live frugally or manage one's affairs economically
take the wind out of someone's sailsto destroy someone's advantage; disconcert or deflate
verb(tr)
to cause (someone) to be short of breaththe blow winded him
to detect the scent of
to pursue (quarry) by following its scent
to cause (a baby) to bring up wind after feeding by patting or rubbing on the back
Old English wind; related to Old High German wint, Old Norse vindr, Gothic winds, Latin ventus
British Dictionary definitions for wind (2 of 3)
wind2
/ (waɪnd) /
verbwinds, windingorwound
(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 pointhe wound a scarf around his head
(tr)to twine, cover, or wreathe by or as if by coiling, wrapping, etc; encirclewe wound the body in a shroud
(tr often foll by up) to tighten the spring of (a clockwork mechanism)
(tr foll by off) to remove by uncoiling or unwinding
(usually intr)to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular coursethe river winds through the hills
(tr)to introduce indirectly or deviouslyhe is winding his own opinions into the report
(tr)to cause to twist or revolvehe wound the handle
(tr; usually foll by up or down)to move by crankingplease wind up the window
(tr)to haul, lift, or hoist (a weight, etc) by means of a wind or windlass
(intr)(of a board, etc) to be warped or twisted
(intr)archaicto proceed deviously or indirectly
noun
the act of winding or state of being wound
a single turn, bend, etca wind in the river
Also called: windinga twist in a board or plank
See also wind down, wind up
Derived forms of wind
windable, adjective
Word Origin for wind
Old English windan; related to Old Norse vinda, Old High German wintan (German winden)
British Dictionary definitions for wind (3 of 3)
wind3
/ (waɪnd) /
verbwinds, winding, windedorwound
(tr)poeticto blow (a note or signal) on (a horn, bugle, etc)
A current of air, especially a natural one that moves along or parallel to the ground, moving from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. Surface wind is measured by anemometers or its effect on objects, such as trees. The large-scale pattern of winds on Earth is governed primarily by differences in the net solar radiation received at the Earth's surface, but it is also influenced by the Earth's rotation, by the distribution of continents and oceans, by ocean currents, and by topography. On a local scale, the differences in rate of heating and cooling of land versus bodies of water greatly affect wind formation. Prevailing global winds are classified into three major belts in the Northern Hemisphere and three corresponding belts in the Southern Hemisphere. The trade winds blow generally east to west toward a low-pressure zone at the equator throughout the region from 30° north to 30° south of the equator. The westerlies blow from west to east in the temperate mid-latitude regions (from 30° to 60° north and south of the equator), and the polar easterlies blow from east to west out of high-pressure areas in the polar regions. See also Beaufort scalechinookfoehnmonsoonSanta Ana.