1. n. & v.
--n.
1. a air in more or less rapid natural motion, esp. from an area of high pressure to one of low pressure. b a current of wind blowing from a specified direction or otherwise defined (north wind; contrary wind).
2 a breath as needed in physical exertion or in speech. b the power of breathing without difficulty while running or making a similar continuous effort (let me recover my wind). c a spot below the centre of the chest where a blow temporarily paralyses breathing.
3 mere empty words; meaningless rhetoric.
4 gas generated in the bowels etc. by indigestion; flatulence.
5 a an artifically produced current of air, esp. for sounding an organ or other wind instrument. b air stored for use or used as a current. c the wind instruments of an orchestra collectively (poor balance between wind and strings).
6 a scent carried by the wind, indicating the presence or proximity of an animal etc.
--v.tr.
1. exhaust the wind of by exertion or a blow.
2 renew the wind of by rest (stopped to wind the horses).
3 make breathe quickly and deeply by exercise.
4 make (a baby) bring up wind after feeding.
5 detect the presence of by a scent.
6 (past and past part. winded or wound) poet. sound (a bugle or call) by blowing.
Phrases and idioms:
before the wind helped by the wind's force. between wind and water at a vulnerable point. close to (or near) the wind
1. sailing as nearly against the wind as is consistent with using its force.
2 colloq. verging on indecency or dishonesty.
get wind of
1. smell out.
2 begin to suspect; hear a rumour of. get (or have) the wind up colloq. be alarmed or frightened.
how (or which way) the wind blows (or lies)
1. what is the state of opinion.
2 what developments are likely. in the wind happening or about to happen. in the wind's eye directly against the wind. like the wind swiftly. off the wind Naut. with the wind on the quarter. on a wind Naut. against a wind on either bow. on the wind (of a sound or scent) carried by the wind. put the wind up colloq. alarm or frighten. take wind be rumoured; become known. take the wind out of a person's sails frustrate a person by anticipating an action or remark etc.
to the winds (or four winds)
1. in all directions.
2 into a state of abandonment or neglect. wind and weather exposure to the effects of the elements. wind band a group of wind instruments as a band or section of an orchestra. wind-break a row of trees or a fence or wall etc. serving to break the force of the wind. wind-chill the cooling effect of wind blowing on a surface. wind-cone wind-sock. wind-force the force of the wind esp. as measured on the Beaufort etc. scale. wind-gap a dried-up former river valley through ridges or hills.
wind-gauge
1. an anemometer.
2 an apparatus attached to the sights of a gun enabling allowance to be made for the wind in shooting.
3 a device showing the amount of wind in an organ. wind instrument a musical instrument in which sound is produced by a current of air, esp. the breath. wind-jammer a merchant sailing-ship. wind machine a device for producing a blast of air or the sound of wind. wind (or winds) of change a force or influence for reform. wind-rose a diagram of the relative frequency of wind directions at a place. wind-row a line of raked hay, corn-sheaves, peats, etc., for drying by the wind. wind-sail a canvas funnel conveying air to the lower parts of a ship. wind shear a variation in wind velocity at right angles to the wind's direction. wind-sleeve wind-sock. wind-sock a canvas cylinder or cone on a mast to show the direction of the wind at an airfield etc. wind-tunnel a tunnel-like device to produce an air-stream past models of aircraft etc. for the study of wind effects on them.
Derivatives:
windless adj.
Etymology: OE f. Gmc 2. v. & n.
--v. (past and past part. wound)
1. intr. go in a circular, spiral, curved, or crooked course (a winding staircase; the path winds up the hill).
2 tr. make (one's way) by such a course (wind your way up to bed; wound their way into our affections).
3 tr. wrap closely; surround with or as with a coil (wound the blanket round me; wound my arms round the child; wound the child in my arms).
4 a tr. coil; provide with a coiled thread etc. (wind the ribbon on to the card; wound cotton on a reel; winding wool into a ball). b intr. coil; (of wool etc.) coil into a ball (the creeper winds round the pole; the wool wound into a ball).
5 tr. wind up (a clock etc.).
6 tr. hoist or draw with a windlass etc. (wound the cable-car up the mountain).
--n.
1. a bend or turn in a course.
2 a single turn when winding.
Phrases and idioms:
wind down
1. lower by winding.
2 (of a mechanism) unwind.
3 (of a person) relax.
4 draw gradually to a close. wind-down n. colloq. a gradual lessening of excitement or reduction of activity. wind off unwind (string, wool, etc.). wind round one's finger see FINGER. wind up 1 coil the whole of (a piece of string etc.).
2 tighten the coiling or coiled spring of (esp. a clock etc.).
3 a colloq. increase the tension or intensity of (wound myself up to fever pitch). b irritate or provoke (a person) to the point of anger.
4 bring to a conclusion; end (wound up his speech).
5 Commerce a arrange the affairs of and dissolve (a company). b (of a company) cease business and go into liquidation.
6 colloq. arrive finally; end in a specified state or circumstance (you'll wind up in prison; wound up owing {pound}100).
wind-up n.
1. a conclusion; a finish.
2 a state of anxiety; the provocation of this. wound up adj. (of a person) excited or tense or angry.
Etymology: OE windan f. Gmc, rel. to WANDER, WEND