wound

1 of 3

noun

ˈwünd 

archaic or dialectal

ˈwau̇nd 

1

a

: an injury to the body (as from violence, accident, or surgery) that typically involves laceration or breaking of a membrane (such 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

see also:

lick one's wounds

wound

2 of 3

verb

ˈwünd 

archaic or dialectal ˈwau̇nd

wounded; wounding; wounds

transitive verb

: to cause a wound to or in

intransitive verb

: to inflict a wound

wound

3 of 3

ˈwau̇nd 

past tense and past participle of wind

Synonyms of wound

Verb

• damage
• injure
• hurt
• bruise

Examples of wound in a Sentence

Noun

She suffered a knife wound to her thigh.

Her mother's scorn left a wound that never healed.

Verb

Four people were seriously wounded in the explosion.

The soldier's leg was wounded by a grenade.

Losing the match wounded his pride.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The screwworm gets its name from the maggots’ habit of burrowing — or screwing — into a wound, according to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. — Fabiola Sánchez, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026

The visible wounds and hunting tools show the injuries caused during a process that can last for hours. — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Verb

In 2021, a teen was arrested after wounding two students and injuring two others in a shooting at a high school in Newport News, Virginia. — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026

Ahmad described the challenges of providing care at a Gaza hospital full of people wounded by military weaponry. — Leila Fadel, NPR, 24 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

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

Phrases Containing wound

• flesh wound
• rub salt in/into the wound
• twist/turn the knife (in the wound)

Rhymes for wound

• bound
• browned
• crowned
• downed
• drowned
• found
• frowned
• gowned
• ground
• hound
• mound
• round

Kids Definition

wound

1 of 3 noun

ˈwünd 

1

: an injury involving cutting or breaking of bodily tissue (as by violence, accident, or surgery)

2

: an injury to a person's feelings

wound

2 of 3 verb

1

: to hurt by cutting or breaking bodily tissue

the broken glass wounded several people

2

: to hurt the feelings or pride of

his remark wounded her

wound

3 of 3

ˈwau̇nd 

past and past participle of wind

Medical Definition

wound

1 of 2 noun

ˈwünd 

1

a

: a physical injury to the body consisting of a laceration or breaking of the skin or mucous membrane often with damage to underlying tissue

has a deep festering knife wound across the palm

a gunshot wound

b

: an opening made in the skin or a membrane of the body incidental to a surgical operation or procedure

infection of a surgical wound

2

: a mental or emotional hurt or blow

emotional wounds of childhood

wound

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to cause a wound to or in