WIRE

I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Old English wīr; akin to Old High German wiara fine gold work, Latin viēre to plait, and probably to Greek iris rainbow Date: before 12th century 1. metal in the form of a usually very flexible thread or slender rod, a thread or rod of such material, 2. ~work , the meshwork of parallel or woven ~ on which the wet web of paper forms, something (as a thin plant stem) that is ~like, 4. plural a system of ~s used to operate the puppets in a puppet show, hidden influences controlling the action of a person or organization, 5. a line of ~ for conducting electric current, a telephone or telegraph ~ or system, telegram , cablegram , fencing or a fence of usually barbed ~, 7. the finish line of a race, the final decisive moment (as of a contest) , ~hair , ~like adjective II. verb (~d; wiring) Date: 15th century transitive verb to provide with ~ ; use ~ on for a specific purpose, to send or send word to by telegraph, to connect by or as if by a ~, to predispose, determine, or establish genetically or innately , intransitive verb to send a telegraphic message, ~r noun