WING


Meaning of WING in English

I. ˈwiŋ noun

Usage: often attributive

Etymology: Middle English winge, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish & Swedish vinge wing; akin to Sanskrit vāti it blows — more at wind

Date: 13th century

1.

a. : one of the movable feathered or membranous paired appendages by means of which a bird, bat, or insect is able to fly ; also : such an appendage even though rudimentary if possessed by an animal belonging to a group characterized by the power of flight

b. : any of various anatomical structures (as of a flying fish or flying lemur) providing means of limited flight

2. : an appendage or part resembling a wing in appearance, position, or function: as

a. : a device worn under the arms to aid a person in swimming or staying afloat

b. : ala

c. : a turned-back or extended edge on an article of clothing

d. : a sidepiece at the top of an armchair

e.

(1) : a foliaceous, membranous, or woody expansion of a plant especially along a stem or on a samara or capsule

(2) : either of the two lateral petals of a papilionaceous flower

f. : a vane of a windmill or arrow

g. : sail

h. : an airfoil that develops a major part of the lift which supports a heavier-than-air aircraft

i. chiefly British : fender d

3. : a means of flight or rapid progress

4. : the act or manner of flying : flight

take wing

5. : a side or outlying region or district

6. : a part or feature of a building usually projecting from and subordinate to the main or central part

the servants' wing

7.

a. : one of the pieces of scenery at the side of a stage

b. plural : the area at the side of the stage out of sight

8.

a. : a left or right section of an army or fleet : flank

b. : one of the offensive positions or players on either side of a center position in certain team sports ; also : flanker

9.

a. : either of two opposing groups within an organization or society : faction

b. : a section of an organized body (as a legislative chamber) representing a group or faction holding distinct opinions or policies — compare left wing , right wing

10.

a. : a unit of the United States Air Force higher than a group and lower than a division

b. : two or more squadrons of naval airplanes

11. : a dance step marked by a quick outward and inward rolling glide of one foot

12. plural : insignia consisting of an outspread pair of stylized bird's wings which are awarded on completion of prescribed training to a qualified pilot, aircrew member, or military balloon pilot

• wingy ˈwiŋ-ē adjective

- in the wings

- on the wing

- under one's wing

[

wing 1a: parts of a bird's wing: 1 coverts, 2 primaries, 3 secondaries

]

II. verb

Date: 1591

transitive verb

1.

a. : to fit with wings

b. : to enable to fly or move swiftly

2.

a. : to traverse with or as if with wings

b. : to effect or achieve by flying

3. : to let fly : dispatch

would start to wing punches — A. J. Liebling

4.

a. : to wound in the wing : disable the wing of

wing ed the duck

b. : to wound (as with a bullet) without killing

wing ed by a sniper

5. : to do or perform without preparation or guidelines : improvise

wing ing it

intransitive verb

: to go with or as if with wings : fly — often used with it

wing ed it to Europe

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.