wind 1
n. /wind/ , Literary /wuynd/ ; v. /wind/ , n.
1. 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.
2. a gale; storm; hurricane.
3. any stream of air, as that produced by a bellows or fan.
4. air that is blown or forced to produce a musical sound in singing or playing an instrument.
5. See wind instrument .
6. wind instruments collectively.
7. the winds , the members of an orchestra or band who play the wind instruments.
8. breath or breathing: to catch one's wind.
9. the power of breathing freely, as during continued exertion.
10. any influential force or trend: strong winds of public opinion.
11. a hint or intimation: to catch wind of a stock split.
12. air carrying an animal's odor or scent.
13. See solar wind .
14. empty talk; mere words.
15. vanity; conceitedness.
16. gas generated in the stomach and intestines.
17. Boxing Slang. the pit of the stomach where a blow may cause a temporary shortness of breath; solar plexus.
18. any direction of the compass.
19. a state of unconcern, recklessness, or abandon: to throw all caution to the winds.
20. between wind and water ,
a. (of a ship) at or near the water line.
b. in a vulnerable or precarious spot: In her profession one is always between wind and water.
21. break wind , to expel gas from the stomach and bowels through the anus.
22. how the wind blows or lies , what the tendency or probability is: Try to find out how the wind blows. Also, which way the wind blows .
23. 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 .
24. in the wind , about to occur; imminent; impending: There's good news in the wind.
25. off the wind ,
a. away from the wind; with the wind at one's back.
b. (of a sailing vessel) headed into the wind with sails shaking or aback.
26. on the wind , as close as possible to the wind. Also, on a wind .
27. sail close to the wind ,
a. Also, sail close on a wind . to sail as nearly as possible in the direction from which the wind is blowing.
b. to practice economy in the management of one's affairs.
c. to verge on a breach of propriety or decency.
d. to escape (punishment, detection, etc.) by a narrow margin; take a risk.
28. take the wind out of one's sails , to surprise someone, esp. with unpleasant news; stun; shock; flabbergast: She took the wind out of his sails when she announced she was marrying someone else.
v.t.
29. to expose to wind or air.
30. to follow by the scent.
31. to make short of wind or breath, as by vigorous exercise.
32. to let recover breath, as by resting after exertion.
v.i.
33. to catch the scent or odor of game.
[ bef. 900; ME (n.), OE; c. D, G Wind, ON vindr, Goth winds, L ventus ]
Syn. 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. 16. flatulence.
wind 2
/wuynd/ , v. , wound or ( Rare ) winded /wuyn'did/ ; winding; n.
v.i.
1. to change direction; bend; turn; take a frequently bending course; meander: The river winds through the forest.
2. to have a circular or spiral course or direction.
3. to coil or twine about something: The ivy winds around the house.
4. to proceed circuitously or indirectly.
5. to undergo winding or winding up.
6. to be twisted or warped, as a board.
v.t.
7. to encircle or wreathe, as with something twined, wrapped, or placed about.
8. to roll or coil (thread, string, etc.) into a ball, on a spool, or the like (often fol. by up ).
9. to remove or take off by unwinding (usually fol. by off or from ): She wound the thread off the bobbin.
10. to twine, fold, wrap, or place about something.
11. to make (a mechanism) operational by tightening the mainspring with a key (often fol. by up ): to wind a clock; to wind up a toy.
12. to haul or hoist by means of a winch, windlass, or the like (often fol. by up ).
13. to make (one's or its way) in a bending or curving course: The stream winds its way through the woods.
14. to make (one's or its way) by indirect, stealthy, or devious procedure: to wind one's way into another's confidence.
15. wind down ,
a. to lessen in intensity so as to bring or come to a gradual end: The war is winding down.
b. to calm down; relax: He's too excited tonight to wind down and sleep.
16. wind up ,
a. to bring to a state of great tension; excite (usually used in the past participle): He was all wound up before the game.
b. to bring or come to an end; conclude: to wind up a sales campaign.
c. to settle or arrange in order to conclude: to wind up one's affairs.
d. to become ultimately: to wind up as a country schoolteacher.
e. Baseball. (of a pitcher) to execute a windup.
n.
17. the act of winding.
18. a single turn, twist, or bend of something wound: If you give it another wind, you'll break the mainspring.
19. a twist producing an uneven surface.
20. out of wind , (of boards, plasterwork, etc.) flat and true.
[ bef. 900; ME winden, OE windan; c. D, G winden, ON vinda, Goth -windan; akin to WEND, WANDER ]
wind 3
/wuynd, wind/ , v.t., winded or wound, winding .
1. to blow (a horn, a blast, etc.).
2. to sound by blowing.
3. to signal or direct by blasts of the horn or the like.
[ 1375-1425; late ME; special use of WIND 1 ]