(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
The ~s of a bird or insect are the two parts of its body that it uses for flying.
The bird flapped its ~s furiously...
N-COUNT
-~ed
...black-~ed birds.
COMB in ADJ
2.
The ~s of an aeroplane are the long flat parts sticking out of its side which support it while it is flying.
N-COUNT
-~ed
...a wide-~ed plane.
COMB in ADJ
3.
A ~ of a building is a part of it which sticks out from the main part.
We were given an office in the empty west ~.
N-COUNT: usu with supp
4.
A ~ of an organization, especially a political organization, is a group within it which has a particular function or particular beliefs.
...the military ~ of the African National Congress.
N-COUNT: with supp, usu supp N
see also left-~ , right-~
5.
In a theatre, the ~s are the sides of the stage which are hidden from the audience by curtains or scenery.
Most nights I watched the start of the play from the ~s.
N-PLURAL: the N
6.
In a game such as football or hockey, the left ~ and the right ~ are the areas on the far left and the far right of the pitch. You can also refer to the players who play in these positions as the left ~ and the right ~.
N-COUNT: usu supp N
7.
A ~ of a car is a part of it on the outside which is over one of the wheels. (BRIT; in AM, use fender )
N-COUNT
8.
If you say that something or someone ~s their way somewhere or ~s somewhere, you mean that they go there quickly, especially by plane.
A few moments later they were airborne and ~ing their way south...
A cash bonanza will be ~ing its way to the 600,000 members of the scheme...
The first of the airliners ~ed westwards and home.
VERB: V way adv/prep, V way adv/prep, V adv/prep
9.
If you say that someone is waiting in the ~s, you mean that they are ready and waiting for an opportunity to take action.
There are now more than 20 big companies waiting in the ~s to take over some of its business.
PHRASE: usu v PHR
10.
If you spread your ~s, you do something new and rather difficult or move to a new place, because you feel more confident in your abilities than you used to and you want to gain wider experience.
I led a very confined life in my village so I suppose that I wanted to spread my ~s.
PHRASE: V inflects
11.
If you take someone under your ~, you look after them, help them, and protect them.
Her boss took her under his ~ after fully realising her potential.
PHRASE: V inflects