wind

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈwind 

archaic or poetic

ˈwīnd 

often attributive

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 force or agency that carries along or influences : tendency, trend

withstood the winds of popular opinion

—Felix Frankfurter

b

: a destructive force or influence

3

a

: breath sense 2a

b

: breath sense 4a

c

: the pit of the stomach : solar plexus

4

: gas generated in the stomach or the intestines

pass wind

5

plural winds

a

: musical wind instruments especially as distinguished from strings and percussion : the wind instruments of an orchestra

b

: players of wind instruments

6

a

: slight information especially about something secret : intimation

got wind of the plan

b

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

7

: something that is insubstantial: such as

a

: mere talk : idle words

b

: nothing, nothingness

c

: vain self-satisfaction

8

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

9

a

: compressed air or gas

b

archaic : air

windless

ˈwind-ləs 

adjective

windlessly adverb

wind

2 of 5

verb (1)

ˈwind 

winded; winding; winds

transitive verb

1

: to make short of breath

2

: to detect or follow by scent

3

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

4

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

5

: to rest (an animal, such as a horse) in order to allow the breath to be recovered

intransitive verb

1

: to scent game

2

dialect : to pause for breath

wind

3 of 5

verb (2)

ˈwīnd 

wound ˈwau̇nd  also winded; winding

transitive verb

1

a

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

b

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

c

: to raise to a high level (as of excitement or tension)

—usually used with up

d(1)

: to tighten the spring of

wind a clock

(2)

: crank

(3)

obsolete : to make tighter : tighten, tune

e(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

2

a

: to traverse on a curving course

the river winds the valley

b

: to cause to move in a curving line or path

c

: to effect by or as if by curving

d(1)

: to cause (something, such as a ship) to change direction : turn

(2)

: to turn (a ship) end for end

e

archaic : to turn the course of

especially : to lead (a person) as one wishes

3

a

: entangle, involve

b

: to introduce sinuously or stealthily : insinuate

c

obsolete : weave

intransitive verb

1

a

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

b

: to proceed as if by winding

2

: to move so as to encircle something

3

: to turn when lying at anchor

4

: bend, warp

wind

4 of 5

noun (2)

ˈwīnd 

1

: coil, turn

2

: a particular method of winding

3

: an act of winding : the state of being wound

4

: a mechanism (such as a winch) for winding

wind

5 of 5

verb (3)

ˈwīnd  ˈwind 

winded ˈwīn-dəd 

ˈwin-

or wound ˈwau̇nd  ; winding

transitive verb

1

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

2

: to sound (a call or note) on a horn

wound a rousing call

—R. L. Stevenson

intransitive verb

: to produce a sound on a horn

Phrases

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

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• current
• draft

Noun (2)

• angle
• arc
• arch
• bend
• bow
• crook
• curvature
• curve
• inflection
• turn

Verb (3)

• coil
• corkscrew
• curl
• entwine
• spiral
• twine
• twist

Examples of wind in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The winds that blew the Sahara dust to Greece also appear to be causing an increase in wildfires. —Anna Gordon, TIME, 24 Apr. 2024

While each plant only lives for one season, one plant can produce up to 1 billion pollen grains, which can be carried far by the wind, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ▪ Mold. —Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2024

The Arabic words recited by observant Muslims reverberated off the historic academic buildings as Palestinian flags tied to flagpoles fluttered in the wind. —Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 23 Apr. 2024

Some artists have gusts of wind at their back which might speed their path to arenas. —Elias Leight, Billboard, 22 Apr. 2024

The globes sit atop a flexible iron base that sways in the wind, giving them the appearance of dancing fireflies and adding to their whimsical appeal. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Apr. 2024

The foldable, ultra-portable quadcopter weighs a mere 249 grams (around 8.8 ounces), yet can still handle wind resistance of up to 10.7m/s. —Brandon Widder, The Verge, 20 Apr. 2024

In 1985, with political winds shifting and government research budgets about to shrink substantially, Kahn left DARPA to form a nonprofit dedicated to fostering research on new infrastructures, including designing and prototyping networks for computing and communications. —IEEE Spectrum, 20 Apr. 2024

Sunday is forecast for a high near 98 degrees with winds from 5 to 10 mph, before cooling to a low of 68 degrees in the evening. —Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024

Verb

The ridges could also be winding structures related to glaciers called eskers. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 25 Apr. 2024

The labor board obtained a court order forcing the company to rehire the workers while the case wound its way through the agency's administrative proceedings. —Dee-Ann Durbin The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 24 Apr. 2024

All aboard the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad, a one-of-a-kind journey that winds through the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, offering gorgeous views, lush greenery, and plenty of fun. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2024

Considered one of Hong Kong’s original vintage fashion stores, its main flagship location (there are three) is in a winding arcade and carries a staggering assortment of vintage denim and workwear across two floors. —Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2024

Pathways wind among the weathered buildings and mechanical treasures spread over the terraced hillside. —Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 20 Apr. 2024

This eye-catching home on winding Glenfir Drive in the Okanagan-Similkamee Regional District of British Columbia is no exception. —Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2024

The Seine, which winds through Paris, is not historically seen as an appealing place to swim. —Frances Vinall, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024

The shortfall would shut down the telescope and leave the project adrift, without enough to even wind it down properly, astronomers say. —Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb (3)

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

Verb (2)

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

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb (3)

1586, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing wind

• before the wind
• break wind
• capful of wind
• close to the wind
• get/have the wind up
• get wind of
• have the wind of
• in the wind
• knock the wind out of (someone)
• like the wind
• near the wind
• off the wind
• on the wind
• prevailing wind
• put the wind up (someone)
• ran like the wind
• relative wind
• sail close to the wind
• second wind
• solar wind
• stellar wind
• straight-line wind
• straw in the wind
• take the wind out of someone's sails
• three sheets in the wind
• three sheets to the wind
• throw/fling/cast caution to the wind
• to the wind
• trade wind
• twist in the wind
• under the wind
• which way the wind is blowing
• wind-bell
• wind-borne
• wind-broken
• wind chime
• wind down
• wind farm
• wind gap
• wind harp
• wind instrument
• wind-pollinated
• wind rose
• wind shake
• wind shear
• wind sock
• wind sprint
• wind tee
• wind tunnel
• wind turbine
• wind up

Kids Definition

wind

1 of 6 noun

ˈwind 

1

: a movement of air

2

: something that has force or influence

the changing winds of political opinion

3

: breath sense 2a

the fall knocked the wind out of me

4

: gas produced in the stomach or the intestines

5

: something unimportant

especially : idle words

6

a

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

b

: slight information especially about something secret

got wind of our plans

7

plural : the wind instruments of a band or orchestra

8

: the direction from which the wind is blowing

wind

2 of 6 verb

1

: to get a scent of

the dogs winded game

2

: to cause to be out of breath

the long climb winded us

3

: to allow to rest so as to recover breath

wind a horse

wind

3 of 6 verb

ˈwīnd  ˈwind 

winded ˈwīn-dəd 

ˈwin-

or wound ˈwau̇nd  ; winding

: to sound by blowing

wind a horn

wind

4 of 6 verb

ˈwīnd 

wound ˈwau̇nd  also winded; winding

1

: to move in a series of twists and turns

a river winding through the valley

2

: entangle sense 2

3

a

: to encircle or cover with something flexible

b

: to coil completely or repeatedly about an object : twine

wind thread on a spool

4

: to lift, pull, move, or operate by means of a rope, cable, or chain and a winch

wind up a pail

5

: to tighten the spring of

wind a clock

wind up a toy train

winder noun

wind

5 of 6 noun

ˈwīnd 

: something curved or twisted : bend

wind

6 of 6 adjective

ˈwind

: of or relating to wind instruments

the wind section of an orchestra

Etymology

Noun

Old English wind "the natural movement of air"

Verb

Old English windan "to twist, move with force"

Geographical Definition

Wind

geographical name

ˈwind 

river in west central Wyoming

Note: The Wind River is the upper course of the Bighorn River.