SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

the wire

noun

Definition of the wire

US

: a thin piece of string that the winner of a race breaks through at the end of the race

The marathon ended in a sprint to the wire by the two top runners.

—often used figuratively

The election went/came (right) down to the wire.

Word by Word Definitions

wire play

: metal in the form of a usually very flexible thread or slender rod
: a thread or rod of such material
: wirework

: to provide with wire : use wire on for a specific purpose
: to send or send word to by telegraph
: to connect by or as if by a wire

See the full definition of wire

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