I. ˈwin verb
( won ˈwən ; win·ning )
Etymology: Middle English winnen, from Old English winnan to struggle; akin to Old High German winnan to struggle and probably to Latin venus sexual desire, charm, Sanskrit vanas desire, vanoti he strives for
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to get possession of by effort or fortune
b. : to obtain by work : earn
striving to win a living from the sterile soil
2.
a. : to gain in or as if in battle or contest
won the championship
b. : to be the victor in
won the war
3.
a. : to make friendly or favorable to oneself or to one's cause — often used with over
won him over with persuasive arguments
b. : to induce to accept oneself in marriage
was unable to win the woman he loved
4.
a. : to obtain (as ore, coal, or clay) by mining
b. : to prepare (as a vein or bed) for regular mining
c. : to recover (as metal) from ore
5. : to reach by expenditure of effort
intransitive verb
1. : to gain the victory in a contest : succeed
2. : to succeed in arriving at a place or a state
• win·less ˈwin-ləs adjective
• win·na·ble ˈwi-nə-bəl adjective
II. noun
Date: 1862
: victory ; especially : first place at the finish (as of a horse race)