I. ˈwīndiŋ, -dēŋ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English windung, something twined or plaited, a hurdle, from windan to wind + -ung -ing
1.
a.
(1) : the material (as wire or rope) that is wound or coiled about an object (as an armature)
(2) : a single turn of the wound material
b. chiefly dialect : a pliable rod : withy
2.
a. : the action of coiling, twining, or twisting a pliable material about an object or about itself
the winding of thread on a spool
silk winding
b. : the manner of winding pliable material about an object — see series winding , shunt winding
3.
a. : a curved or sinuous course, passage, or line
knows all the windings of the cave — A.A.Grace
b.
(1) : movement or progress in a curve or a series of curves
following the windings of the creek until it led us far back into the hills — Mary S. Broome
(2) : a sinuous movement in conduct or thought : a devious or tortuous way or method — usually used in plural
all the windings of this sordid intrigue — J.W.Beach
4.
a. : the act or action of hoisting or pulling by means of a mechanism that winds (as a winch)
b. : the act or action of tightening a spring or other mechanism (as in a clock or watch) by turning a key, stem, or screw
5. : the state, quality, or fact of being twisted or warped out of a plane
drove wooden piles that would stay out of winding
6. : a defective gait of a horse in which one foreleg is twisted in front of and around the other
II. adjective
Etymology: from present participle of wind (IV)
1. : marked by winding: as
a. : having a pronounced curve
the rough winding stairs of the medieval fortress — Claudia Cassidy
especially : spiral
b. : having a course that winds
a winding road
c. : digressive , rambling
the conclusion of the long and winding stories — Sir Walter Scott
2. obsolete : tricky , deceitful , wily
3. : staggering , reeling
a kick that sent him winding — G.S.Perry
• wind·ing·ly adverb
• wind·ing·ness noun -es