wind

¹wind

noun, often attributive \ˈwind, archaic or poetic ˈwīnd\

Definition of WIND

1

a : a natural movement of air of any velocity; especially : the earth's air or the gas surrounding a planet in natural motion horizontally

b : an artificially produced movement of air

c : solar wind, stellar wind

2

a : a destructive force or influence

b : a force or agency that carries along or influences : tendency, trend <withstood the winds of popular opinion — Felix Frankfurter>

3

a : breath 4a

b : breath 2a

c : the pit of the stomach : solar plexus

4

: gas generated in the stomach or the intestines <pass wind>

5

a : compressed air or gas

b archaic : air

6

: something that is insubstantial: as

a : mere talk : idle words

b : nothing, nothingness

c : vain self-satisfaction

7

a : air carrying a scent (as of a hunter or game)

b : slight information especially about something secret : intimation <got wind of the plan>

8

a : musical wind instruments especially as distinguished from strings and percussion

b plural : players of wind instruments

9

a : a direction from which the wind may blow : a point of the compass; especially : one of the cardinal points

b : the direction from which the wind is blowing

— wind·less \-ləs\ adjective

— wind·less·ly adverb

— before the wind

: in the same direction as the main force of the wind

— close to the wind

: as nearly as possible against the main force of the wind

— have the wind of

1

: to be to windward of

2

: to be on the scent of

3

: to have a superior position to

— in the wind

: about to happen : astir, afoot <change is in the wind>

— near the wind

1

: close to the wind

2

: close to a point of danger : near the permissible limit

— off the wind

: away from the direction from which the wind is blowing

— on the wind

: toward the direction from which the wind is blowing

— to the wind or to the winds

: aside, away <threw caution to the wind>

— under the wind

1

: to leeward

2

: in a place protected from the wind : under the lee

Origin of WIND

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German wint wind, Latin ventus, Greek aēnai to blow, Sanskrit vāti it blows

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

monsoon, occlusion, ozone, rime, squall, zephyr

Rhymes with WIND

bind, blind, find, grind, hind, kind, mind, rind, signed, spined, tined, wynd

²wind

verb \ˈwind\

Definition of WIND

transitive verb

1

: to detect or follow by scent

2

: to expose to the air or wind : dry by exposing to air

3

: to make short of breath

4

: to regulate the wind supply of (an organ pipe)

5

: to rest (as a horse) in order to allow the breath to be recovered

intransitive verb

1

: to scent game

2

dialect : to pause for breath

First Known Use of WIND

15th century

³wind

verb \ˈwīnd, ˈwind\

wind·ed \ˈwīn-dəd, ˈwin-\ or wound \ˈwau̇nd\ wind·ing

Definition of WIND

transitive verb

1

: to cause (as a horn) to sound by blowing : blow

2

: to sound (as a call or note) on a horn <wound a rousing call — R. L. Stevenson>

intransitive verb

: to produce a sound on a horn

Origin of WIND

¹wind

First Known Use: 1586

⁴wind

verb \ˈwīnd\

wound \ˈwau̇nd\ also wind·edwind·ing

Definition of WIND

transitive verb

1

a obsolete : weave

b : entangle, involve

c : to introduce sinuously or stealthily : insinuate

2

a : to encircle or cover with something pliable : bind with loops or layers

b : to turn completely or repeatedly about an object : coil, twine

c (1) : to hoist or haul by means of a rope or chain and a windlass (2) : to move (a ship) by hauling on a capstan

d (1) : to tighten the spring of <wind a clock> (2) obsolete : to make tighter : tighten, tune (3) : crank

e : to raise to a high level (as of excitement or tension) —usually used with up

3

a : to cause to move in a curving line or path

b archaic : to turn the course of; especially : to lead (a person) as one wishes

c (1) : to cause (as a ship) to change direction : turn (2) : to turn (a ship) end for end

d : to traverse on a curving course <the river winds the valley>

e : to effect by or as if by curving

intransitive verb

1

: bend, warp

2

a : to have a curving course or shape : extend in curves

b : to proceed as if by winding

3

: to move so as to encircle something

4

: to turn when lying at anchor

Origin of WIND

Middle English, from Old English windan to twist, move with speed or force, brandish; akin to Old High German wintan to wind, Umbrian ohavendu let him turn aside

First Known Use: before 12th century

⁵wind

noun \ˈwīnd\

Definition of WIND

1

: a mechanism (as a winch) for winding

2

: an act of winding : the state of being wound

3

: coil, turn

4

: a particular method of winding

First Known Use of WIND

14th century

Wind

geographical name \ˈwind\

Definition of WIND

river W cen Wyoming, the upper course of Bighorn River

wind

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Movement of air relative to the surface of the Earth. Wind is an important factor in determining and controlling climate and weather. It is also the generating force of most ocean and freshwater waves. Wind occurs because of horizontal and vertical differences in atmospheric pressure. The general pattern of winds over the Earth is known as the general circulation, and specific winds are named for the direction from which they originate (e.g., a wind blowing from west to east is a westerly). Wind speeds are often classified according to the Beaufort scale.