wing
/wɪŋ
/noun
1(In a bird) a modified forelimb that bears large feathers and is used for flying.Besides having forelimbs that resemble the wings of modern birds, the animal sported long feathers from thigh to foot on each hind limb....
- In medieval Europe, scribes used trimmed feathers from the wings of large birds and various inks to mark a set of alphabetic letters on parchment skins.
- A bird needs wings for lift, tail feathers for control and lightweight bones.
Synonyms
literary pinion, van
rare pennon
1.1(In a bat or pterosaur) a modified forelimb with skin stretched between or behind the fingers.Birds have feathers, which are unfeeling structures, whereas the pterosaur's wings were made entirely out of skin....
- Megachiropterans have a claw on the second finger of the wing.
- Mischief glared at the dragon as it stretched its wings.
1.2(In most insects) each of two or four flat extensions of the thoracic cuticle, either transparent or covered in scales.Among the tissues preserved in the paper shales are delicate feathers, flower parts, hair, insect wings, and scales....
- Uniquely, a butterfly's outer body is covered by tiny sensory hairs and the wings are covered by scales.
- Vertebrate and insect wings are not homologous but have some superficial similarities; they have similar functions yet are very different in structure.
1.3The wing of a bird as food.They think a waffle needs a chicken wing the way a fish needs galoshes....
- Many of my classmates still consider the chicken wings the best they have ever eaten, even after many years and visits to large numbers of good restaurants.
- They're like the crispy end of a chicken wing you get at a roadhouse.
1.4 (usually wings) Used with reference to ease and swiftness of movement: the thought gave wings to her feet...
- Good Vibrations took music production to a new level, and Brian Wilson's work soared above us on wings of genius.
- I don't know how the future will take us, how we will fly on the wings and winds of fate and fortune.
- Terror gave her feet wings, and she outdistanced them despite their longer legs.
2A rigid horizontal structure that projects from both sides of an aircraft and supports it in the air.The single-seat research aircraft had a monocoque aluminum fuselage with a wood wing....
- These are the de-icing boots on the leading edges of the wings, horizontal and vertical stabilizers.
- Bombardier Roy Brown's daughter Judy Valentini inspects the wrecked wing of an aircraft during the visit to Horn Island.
2.1 (wings) A pilot’s certificate of ability to fly a plane, indicated by a badge representing a pair of wings: Michael earned his wings as a commercial pilot...
- He gained his wings as a sergeant pilot a year later and was commissioned in 1944.
- You get the occasional guy who fails just before wings or at wings and it's a bit of a shame because they're so close.
- After entering the U.S. Air Force, Aldrin earned his pilot wings in 1952.
3A thing resembling or analogous to a wing in form or function, in particular:
3.1 Anatomy A lateral part or projection of an organ or structure.The posterior aspect of the lateral pterygoid plate may be joined to the angular spine of the greater wing by a pterygopetrosal ligament that may calcify....
- This branch enters the skull through the superior orbital fissure or a small foramen in the greater wing of the sphenoid to anastomose with the ophthalmic artery.
- If the patient is able to stand erect, the examiner can estimate the height symmetry of the iliac crests by resting his or her hands on the iliac wings.
3.2 Botany A thin membranous appendage of a fruit or seed that is dispersed by the wind.Water is then applied to the seeds to remove the wing from the seed....
- Once you have picked the seeds and removed the wing just place them in a paper bag and store them in a cool dry place until you are ready for them.
- The nuts have no seed wings, with which to travel, and are not viable if they simply drop to the ground.
4British A raised part of the body of a car or other vehicle above the wheel.T1 will see readily identifiable versions of everyday saloon cars visually spectacularly modified with big flared wheel arches, wings and bumpers....
- Automotive Industries recently was shown a more potent Stratus, stripped of its chrome accents but also devoid of any wings or air dams.
- Body kits, spoilers, wings, decals, bumpers and other accessories are commonly used to customize a car.
5A part of a large building, especially one that projects from the main part: a maternity wing...
- The first floor of the main wing of the building was destroyed and it was believed a chimney at the back of the building may have been left unstable.
- The Sanctuary's dueling grounds was found at the end of the north wing of the main chamber.
- The boardwalk guides visitors past another guest cottage and the bedroom wing of the main house.
Synonyms
part, section, side;
annexe, extension;
North American ell
6A group within a political party or other organization having particular views or a particular function: a candidate from the liberal wing of the party...
- Ms Reid was a one time member of the Official Republicans movement and later joined Irish Republican Socialist Party, the political wing of the INLA.
- Rather, the IRA was increasingly recognized as the armed wing of one political party.
- Will the Republican party be the political wing of the evangelical movement again in 2008?
Synonyms
faction, camp, caucus, arm, side, branch, group, grouping, section, set, clique, coterie, cabal;
fringe movement;
lobby
7 (the wings) The sides of a theatre stage out of view of the audience.He didn't go on stage, though, but sang from the wings while Beesley mimed onstage....
- The theatre goes black, and the red curtains part, and go back towards the wings as the stage lights go up to reveal the lobby of a small hotel.
- She bustled out of the bathroom and headed towards the wings of the stage, where the rest of the choir was waiting.
8(In soccer, rugby, and hockey) the part of the field close to the sidelines.Saints are set to switch Darren Albert from the wing to full-back to offset the absence of Paul Wellens, but Millward also has the option of Anthony Stewart and Sean Hoppe....
- Nick Barber came onto the wing replacing the centre Smith.
- El Hamdaoui has variously been described as a striker and capable of playing on both wings, in other words jack-of-all-trades, master of none.
8.1 (also wing forward) An attacking player positioned near to one of the sidelines.The big wing forward was to convert two further frees in the opening quarter while Seamus Lyons landed his first score after a foul on David Cuddy....
- Although he has been used mainly as a wing forward up to now, he's chosen at full forward for tomorrow's match.
- As we approach the League final, the famous shout for joy from the wing forward on that day in 1980, when the Rangers beat Renard, is doing the rounds again.
9An air force unit of several squadrons or groups.He has commanded a fighter squadron, two fighter wings, a numbered Air Force and two major commands....
- The wing commander is responsible for all of his or her wing's squadrons in the recovery and individual and unit training phases.
- He has commanded a fighter squadron, two fighter wings, and a numbered air force.
9.1The right or left flank of the main body of a battle formation.This was swiftly followed by cavalry actions on both wings, each army's right being victorious and pursuing the enemy from the field....
- After the victory at Smolensk, Hitler reverted to his old concept of concentrating the main effort on the wings.
10 rare A flock of plovers (birds): some sportsmen make no scruple about firing into the thick of a wing of plover...
- As soon as "a wing of Plover" is sighted in the air, the man sets his decoy-birds in motion.
verb
1 [no object, with adverbial of direction] Travel on wings or by aircraft; fly: George satisfied his keen urge to fly by winging homewards with the Royal Air Force...
- They noticed the AA, smoke and shell fire, but it wasn't until a VaI winged over and flashed his meatball that Patriarca knew something was very wrong.
- A bird the color of rye bread chirped as it winged by and out into the distance until it became a mere dot in the sky.
- Sports fans are like some new species of migratory bird, season after season winging across the world to some far-flung field to unfurl the flag and imbibe the beer.
Synonyms
fly, glide, soar;
take wing
1.1Move, travel, or be sent quickly, as if flying: the prize will be winging its way to you soon...
- Yeah, a 30/30 shell winging past a guy's ear will do that.
- Like, this evening, we were watching a bit of TV when a commercial for the latest volume of Barbra Streisand Greatest Hits had the velvet voice winging through the speakers.
- It would appear that text messages had been winging back and forth across the Atlantic and Weggie was under orders to, ‘Give him a big kiss on the lips from me.’
Synonyms
hurtle, speed, shoot, whizz, zoom, streak, sweep, fly, race;
sail
1.2 [with object and adverbial of direction] Send or convey (something) quickly, as if by air: just jot down the title on a postcard and wing it to us...
- I've lost my copy (only had it on minidisc) so if anyone out there has this track then wing us one will you.
1.3 [with object] archaic Enable (someone or something) to fly or move rapidly: the convent was at some distance, but fear would wing her steps...
- Horatio, who wants a happier ending for Hamlet than silence, chimes in with a denial of it which gives way to a chorus of singing angels winging Hamlet to heaven.
- Remember the way the puff of a particular cigarette winged us instantly to that idyll of ‘Marlboro Country.’
2 [with object] Shoot (a bird) in the wing, so as to prevent flight without causing death: one bird was winged for every bird killed...
- The Steps have built an aviary of sorts and have been trying to stock it with any wild birds they can wing with their air rifles.
2.1Wound (someone) superficially, especially in the arm or shoulder.In mid-air, I turn and squeeze off three shots, winging him....
- He did some shooting at Gardener in yard but only winged him because Mr Big Star is drinking too much.
- In a split second Jerome, whose anger had begun to build, flashed out his gun and fired, but Selby dropped to one knee and fired his gun, winging him.
Synonyms
wound, graze, hit, clip
3 (wing it) informal Speak or act without preparation; improvise: a little preparation puts you ahead of the job-seekers who try to wing it...
- Geminis thrive on the exhilaration of playing different personas - winging it, getting inventive and improvising.
- Unfortunately I didn't really do any research or preparation, just thinking somehow I could wing it.
- Women tend to spend way too much time preparing instead of just winging it.
Synonyms
improvise, play it by ear, extemporize, ad lib
informal busk it
From theatrical slang, originally meaning 'to play a role without properly knowing the text' (either by relying on a prompter in the wings or by studying the part in the wings between scenes)
Phrases
in the wings
on the wing
on a wing and a prayer
spread (or stretch or try) one's wings
take wing
under one's wing
Derivatives
wingless
/ adjective ...- They must cover 12 miles a day, and they will see no living creature: Antarctica sustains no terrestrial life, unless you count a wingless midge reputed to hover in tiny rock cracks.
- Head lice are small wingless flat insects which move from one person to another by direct head-to-head contact and live off human blood in the scalp.
- Lice are wingless and they cannot jump, unlike fleas, but instead they spread through physical contact.
wing-like
- The sleeves, supported by a stainless steel structure, form wing-like shoulders, making the model appear like an angelic carnival dancer who stumbled into a giant vat of shocking pink paint.
- Two long, wing-like sections meet at a central pillar, which stands on a broad triangular base inscribed with letters that describe the award.
- Seed is cheap, so insert some round the edge of a largeish pot of good compost, sit back, and watch the wing-like shoots emerge.
Origin
Middle English (originally in the plural): from Old Norse vængir, plural of vængr.
Before wing came into English from Old Norse vængr, the term used was feathers, an Old English word from a Germanic root. In a theatre the wings are where actors wait for their cue to come on stage: someone waiting in the wings is ready to do something at the appropriate time. To wing it, or do something without preparation, is originally theatrical slang, which meant ‘to play a role without properly knowing the text’, either by relying on a prompter in the wings or by studying the part in the wings between scenes. It was used in this sense from the late 19th century, but did not acquire its more general meaning of ‘improvise’ until the 1950s. On a wing and a prayer, ‘with only the slightest chance of success’, is from the title of a 1943 song by the American songwriter Harold Adamson, ‘Comin’ in on a Wing and a Pray'r’. He took it from a comment made by a wartime pilot speaking to ground control just before he made an emergency landing in his damaged plane.