wound

³wound

\ˈwau̇nd\

Definition of WOUND

past and past participle of wind

¹wound

noun \ˈwünd, archaic or dialect ˈwau̇nd\

Definition of WOUND

1

a : an injury to the body (as from violence, accident, or surgery) that typically involves laceration or breaking of a membrane (as the skin) and usually damage to underlying tissues

b : a cut or breach in a plant usually due to an external agent

2

: a mental or emotional hurt or blow

3

: something resembling a wound in appearance or effect; especially : a rift in or blow to a political body or social group

Examples of WOUND

1. She suffered a knife wound to her thigh.
2. Her mother's scorn left a wound that never healed.

Origin of WOUND

Middle English, from Old English wund; akin to Old High German wunta wound

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with WOUND

stound, swound

²wound

verb

Definition of WOUND

transitive verb

: to cause a wound to or in

intransitive verb

: to inflict a wound

Examples of WOUND

1. Four people were seriously wounded in the explosion.
2. The soldier's leg was wounded by a grenade.
3. Losing the match wounded his pride .

First Known Use of WOUND

before 12th century

Related to WOUND

Synonyms

damage, harm, hurt, injure

Related Words

batter, bloody, blow out, bruise, contuse, cut, gash, gore, lacerate, scald, scar, scathe, strain, tear; crease, graze, nick; cripple, hamstring, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate; abuse, aggrieve, afflict, maltreat, torment, torture; lay up; blemish, impair, mar, scrape, spoil

Near Antonyms

cure, fix, heal, mend, remedy

wound

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Break in any body tissue due to external action (including surgery). It may be closed (blunt trauma) or open (penetrating trauma). Blood vessels, nerves, muscles, bones, joints, and internal organs may be damaged. A closed wound can be caused by impact, twisting, bending, or deceleration (as in a car crash). It can range from a minor bruise or sprain to a skull fracture with brain damage or a spinal-cord injury with paralysis. In an open wound, foreign matter such as bacteria, dirt, and clothing fragments entering through broken skin or mucous membrane may result in infection. Other factors affecting severity include depth, surface area, degree of tearing, and structures damaged. Minor wounds need only first aid. For others, after examination and perhaps diagnostic imaging and exploratory surgery, treatment may include fluid replacement or drainage, sterilization and antibiotics, tetanus antitoxin, and repair of damaged structures. A closed wound may need to be opened or an open one sutured closed. See also burn, coagulation, crush injury, dislocation, scar.

Variants of WOUND

wound or trauma