/ ˈwaɪə(r); NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ U , C ] metal in the form of thin thread; a piece of this :
a coil of copper wire
a wire basket
The box was fastened with a rusty wire.
—see also barbed wire , high wire , tripwire
2.
[ C , U ] a piece of wire that is used to carry an electric current or signal :
overhead wires
fuse wire
The telephone wires had been cut.
—see also hot-wire
3.
the wire [ sing. ] a wire fence :
Three prisoners escaped by crawling under the wire.
4.
[ C ] ( informal , especially NAmE ) = telegram :
We sent a wire asking him to join us.
—see also wiry
•
IDIOMS
- get your wires crossed
- go, come, etc. (right) down to the wire
—more at live (II), pull verb
■ verb
1.
[ vn ] wire sth (up) to connect a building, piece of equipment, etc. to an electricity supply using wires :
Make sure the plug is wired up correctly.
2.
[ vn ] wire sb/sth up (to sth) | wire sb/sth to sth to connect sb/sth to a piece of equipment, especially a tape recorder or computer system :
He was wired up to a police tape recorder.
3.
[ vn ] wire sth (for sth) to put a special device somewhere in order to listen secretly to other people's conversations
SYN bug :
The room had been wired for sound.
4.
wire (sth) (to sb) | wire sb (sth) ( especially NAmE ) to send sb a message by telegram :
[ vn , vnn ]
He wired the news to us.
He wired us the news.
5.
wire sth (to sb) | wire sb sth to send money from one bank to another using an electronic system :
[ vn , vnn ]
The bank wired the money to her.
The bank wired her the money.
6.
[ vn ] to join things together using wire
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English wīr ; of Germanic origin, probably from the base of Latin viere plait, weave.