I. wire 1 S2 W3 /waɪə $ waɪr/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ wire , ↑ wireless , ↑ wiring ; adjective : ↑ wiry , ↑ wired , wireless; verb : ↑ wire ]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: wir ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] thin metal in the form of a thread, or a piece of this:
copper wire
a wire fence
⇨ ↑ barbed wire , ↑ high wire , ↑ tripwire
2 . [countable] a piece of metal like this, used for carrying electrical currents or signals:
a telephone wire
3 . get your wires crossed to become confused about what someone is saying because you think they are talking about something else
4 . go/come/be down to the wire informal especially American English to be finished or achieved with very little time left:
The game was very close and went right down to the wire.
5 . [countable] American English a piece of electronic recording equipment, usually worn secretly on someone’s clothes
6 . [countable] American English a ↑ telegram
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + wire
▪ fine/thin
Use a piece of fine wire to clear the obstruction.
▪ thick
Curtains hung from a thick wire.
▪ copper/steel wire
Electrical impulses are sent down the copper wire.
▪ barbed wire (=wire with a lot of sharp points on it, used for making fences)
The prison was surrounded by barbed wire.
■ wire + NOUN
▪ a wire fence
We drew up outside a compound surrounded by a wire fence.
▪ a wire rack
Bake the biscuits for 10 minutes until golden. Cool on a wire rack.
■ phrases
▪ a piece/length/strand of wire
The pieces of wire he’d cut were too short.
▪ a coil of wire
The coil of barbed wire will be used for a fence.
▪ a loop of wire
There is no latch or knob – just a loop of wire that goes over a nail.
II. wire 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ wire , ↑ wireless , ↑ wiring ; adjective : ↑ wiry , ↑ wired , wireless; verb : ↑ wire ]
1 . ( also wire up )
a) to connect wires inside a building or piece of equipment so that electricity can pass through:
Check that the plug has been wired up properly.
b) to connect electrical equipment to the electrical system using wires
wire something to something
The CD player had been wired up to the car’s cigarette lighter.
2 . to send money electronically
3 . to attach a piece of recording equipment to a person or room, especially secretly
4 . be wired for something to have all the necessary wires and connections for an electrical system to work:
All the rooms have been wired for cable TV.
5 . American English to send a ↑ telegram to someone
6 . to fasten two or more things together using wire
wire something together
The poles had all been wired together.
⇨ ↑ wiring