wing
noun /wɪŋ/
/wɪŋ/
Idioms 
enlarge image
enlarge image[countable] one of the parts of the body of a bird, insect or bat that it uses for flying- The swan flapped its wings noisily.
- wing feathers
Extra ExamplesTopics Birdsb1- I wish I could sprout wings and fly away.
- It flapped its wings and flew off.
- It had white markings on its wings.
- The beetle's fore wings are small and are not used in flight.
- The young birds were under the mother bird's wing.
- a bird with a broken wing
- the patterns on butterfly wings
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- left
- right
- front
- …
- pair
- extend
- flex
- open
- …
- beat
- flap
- flutter
- …
- tip
- feathers
- span
- …
- on a/the wing
- under a/the wing
- the wing of a chicken, etc. eaten as food
- We ordered the fried chicken wings.
- First, fry the chicken wings in the oil until they begin to brown.
enlarge image[countable] one of the large flat parts that stick out from the side of a plane and help to keep it in the air when it is flying- Salvage teams have been able to recover part of the wing of the plane.
- The right wing grazed the runway on landing.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- aircraft
- left
- port
- …
- tip
- [countable] a part of a large building that sticks out from the main part
- the east wing
- the new wing of the hospital
- Our rooms were in the west wing.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- north
- south
- etc.
- …
- add
- build
- in a/the wing
- (British English)
enlarge image(North American English fender)[countable] a part of a car that is above a wheel- There was a dent in the nearside wing.
Extra ExamplesTopics Transport by car or lorryc2- There was a dent in one wing.
- The nearside wing was damaged in the accident.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- nearside
- offside
- front
- …
- damage
- dent
- mend
- …
- mirror
- in a/the wing
- [countable] one section of an organization that has a particular function or whose members share the same opinions synonym arm
- The radical wing of the party was dissatisfied with the policies.
- The political wing of the National Resistance Army entered into negotiations with the government.
- They're on the left wing of the Labour Party.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- left
- right
- conservative
- …
- on a/the wing
- (also winger)[countable] (sport) either of the attacking players who play towards the side of the playing area in sports such as football (soccer) or hockey see also left wing, right wing
- [countable] the far left or right side of the sports field
- He plays on the wing.
Extra ExamplesTopics Sports: ball and racket sportsc2- He was playing on the right wing.
- The ball went down the right wing.
- the wings[plural] the area at either side of the stage that cannot be seen by the audience
- She watched every performance from the wings.
Wordfinder- backdrop
- costume
- curtain
- footlights
- prop
- proscenium
- scenery
- set
- stage
- the wings
Extra ExamplesTopics Film and theatrec2- We watched from the wings.
- She was waiting in the wings, ready to go on stage when her turn came.
of bird/insect
of plane
of building
of car
of organization
in football/hockey
in theatre
Word OriginMiddle English (originally in the plural): from Old Norse vængir, plural of vængr.
Idioms
clip somebody’s wings
- to limit a person’s freedom or power
- Having a new baby to take care of has clipped her wings.
get your wings
- to pass the exams that mean you are allowed to fly a plane
(waiting) in the wings
- ready to take over a particular job or be used in a particular situation when needed
- She was aware of a whole host of ambitious young managers waiting in the wings.
- There's a wealth of talent waiting in the wings of British theatre.
on the wing
- (literary) (of a bird, insect, etc.) flying
on a wing and a prayer
- with only a very slight chance of successTopics Successc2
spread your wings
- to become more independent and confident and try new activities, etc.
- Going to college gave her the chance to spread her wings.
take somebody under your wing
- to take care of and help somebody who has less experience of something than you
- Simon's uncle had taken him under his wing.
take wing
- (literary) (of a bird, insect, etc.) to fly away
- (figurative) Her imagination took wing.