wind

play

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: such 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 plural winds

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

b :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

—

windless

play \ˈwind-ləs\ adjective

—

windlessly

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 and Etymology of wind

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

monsoon, occlusion, ozone, rime, squall, zephyr

wind

play

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 (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

First Known Use of wind

15th century

wind

play

verb \ ˈwīnd , ˈwind \

Definition of wind

winded play \ˈwīn-dəd, ˈwin-\ or wound play \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

Origin and Etymology of wind

¹wind

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1586

See Words from the same year

wind

play

verb \ ˈwīnd \

Definition of wind

wound play \ˈwau̇nd\ also winded; winding

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 (something, such 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 and Etymology 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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

wind

play

noun \ ˈwīnd \

Definition of wind

1 :a mechanism (such 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

play

geographical name \ ˈwind \

Definition of Wind

river in west central Wyoming

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

WIND Defined for Kids

wind

play

noun \ ˈwind \

Definition of wind for Students

1 :a natural movement of the air

northerly winds

2 :power to breathe

Falling down knocked the wind out of me.

3 :limited knowledge especially about something secret

They got wind of our plans.

4 winds plural :wind instruments of a band or orchestra

wind

verb

Definition of wind for Students

winded; winding

:to cause to be out of breath Climbing the long flight of stairs winded him.

wind

play

verb \ ˈwīnd \

Definition of wind for Students

wound \ˈwau̇nd\; winding

1 :to move in or be made up of a series of twists and turns

The trail winds through the trees.

2 :to twist around

The machine winds thread on a spool.

3 :to cover with something twisted around :wrap

Wind your arm with a bandage.

4 :to make the spring of tight

I wound my watch.

— wind up

1 :to bring to an end :conclude

Let's wind up the meeting.

2 :to reach a place or situation that was not expected

How did we wind up back here?

3 :to swing the arm before pitching a baseball

Learn More about wind

See words that rhyme with wind Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for wind Spanish Central: Translation of wind Nglish: Translation of wind for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of wind for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wind

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wind

Definition of wind

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windlessly

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