1579
window
College. Winchester was England's capital city in the 9th and
10th centuries. → see also WYKEHAMIST
wind¹ /wInd/ n 1 [C;U] moving air; a current of air, especially
one moving strongly or quickly: the east wind | a 70-mile-an-
hour wind | We couldn't play tennis because there was too
much wind. | The clothes on the washing line flapped in the
wind. | A sudden gust of wind blew the door shut. | High/
strong winds made driving conditions dangerous | (fig.) the
winds of change/controversy → see USAGE 2 [U] breath or
breathing: It took him a while to get his wind (=breathe
properly or regularly) after running so fast. → see also
SECOND WIND, WINDPIPE 3 [U] especially BrE (the condition of
having) air or gas in the stomach: Cabbage gives me wind. |
Small babies often get wind. 4 [U] infml derog words without
meaning: That speech was just a load of wind. → see also
WINDBAG 5 [the+S+sing./pl.] the group of WIND INSTRUMENT
players in a band: the wind section of an orchestra 6 get/
have wind of infml to hear or know about (something secret
or private), especially accidentally or unofficially: The police
have got wind of a robbery planned for tonight. 7 in wind
and limb BrE fml or pomp in all parts of one's body: The horse
was sound in wind and limb. (=completely healthy) 8 put/
get the wind up infml to make/become frightened or anxious:
These new police tactics have really put the wind up the local
drug dealers. 9 see/find out which way the wind blows to
find out what the situation is before taking action
10 (something) in the wind (something, especially that is
secret or not generally known) about to happen/being
done 11 take the wind out of someone's sails infml to take
away someone's confidence or advantage, especially by
saying or doing something unexpected → see also WINDY,
break wind (BREAK), (sail) close to the wind (CLOSE), throw
caution to the winds (THROW)
USAGE Wind is a general word for a moving current of air.
A breeze is usually a pleasant, gentle wind: There's a nice
breeze down by the sea. A gust is a strong, sudden rush
of air: A gust of wind blew the door shut. A gale is a very
strong wind: Our chimney was blown down in a gale. →
see also STORM (USAGE)
wind² /waInd/ v [T] 1 to cause to be breathless or have
difficulty in breathing: He was winded by a sudden blow to
the stomach. 2 tech to smell the presence of (especially a
hunted animal): The hounds winded a fox.
wind³ /waInd/ v wound /waund/ 1 [T] to turn round and
round with a number of circular movements: She was
winding the handle. 2 [T(UP)] to tighten the working parts of
by turning round and round: The clock's stopped; you'd
better wind it (up). 3 [T+obj+adv/prep] BrE || roll AmE to move by
turning a handle: I wound down the car window. 4 [T+obj+adv/
prep] to turn or twist (something) repeatedly, especially
round an object: The nurse wound a bandage round my
wounded arm. | She wound the wool into a ball. | I wound a
scarf round my neck. 5 [+adv/prep] to follow a twisting
course, with many changes of direction: The path winds
through the woods and up the side of the mountain. → see
also WINDING
wind down phr v 1 [T] (wind sthg. ⇔ down ) to bring to
an end gradually; cause to be no longer in operation: The
company is winding down its business in Hong Kong. →
compare WIND UP 2 [I] (of a person) to rest and become
calmer or less active after work or excitement
wind up phr v 1 [T(with)] (wind sthg. ⇔ up ) to bring to an
end: We wound up the meeting with a vote of thanks to the
chairman. | The company is losing a lot of money, so it's being
wound up. → compare WIND DOWN 2 [i;L] infml to get into the
stated usually unpleasant condition or place as an accidental
or unintentional result of one's actions or behaviour: [+V-ing]
I wound up paying for it myself. (=In the end it was me that
had to pay.) | [+adj] He wound up drunk. | [+adv/prep] You'll
wind up in hospital if you drive so fast. | If you keep working
at this rate you could wind up with a heart attack. 3 [T]
(wind sbdy. ⇔ up ) BrE infml to annoy or deceive (someone)
playfully: Don't take any notice - she's just trying to wind you
up. → see also WIND, WOUND-UP
wind⁴ /waInd/ n a bend or turn: Give the handle a few more
winds.
wind⁵ /waInd/ v winded or wound /waund/ [T] lit to blow (a
horn)
wind-bag /'wIndbæg/ n infml derog a person who talks too
much, especially about uninteresting things → see also
WIND
wind-blown /'wIndbləun/ adj having the appearance (as if)
caused by the action of wind: windblown hair/landscapes
wind-break /'wIndbreIk/ n a fence, wall, line of trees etc,
intended to prevent the wind coming through with its full
force
wind-break-er /'wInd,brɪ:kə/ n AmE for WINDCHEATER
wind-cheat-er /'wInd,tʃi:tə/ BrE || windbreaker AmE —
n old-fash a short coat usually fastened closely at wrists and
neck, which is intended to keep out the wind
wind chill /'wInd tʃIl/ n [U] tech the cooling effect of the
wind: It must have been minus 5 with the wind chill factor.
Win·der·mere /'wIndəmiə||-dər-/ one of the lakes in the
LAKE DISTRICT, northwest England, which is the largest lake in
England
Win·dex /'wIndeks/ trademark a special type of liquid used for
cleaning windows, sold in the US
wind-fall /'wIndfɔ:l/n 1 a piece of fruit that has fallen off a
tree: These apples are windfalls, but they're good. 2 an unex-
pected lucky gift or gain, especially money from someone
who has died: a windfall of £100 from a distant relative |
windfall profits
wind farm /'wInd fɑ:m||-fɑ:rm/ n a place where a lot of
WINDMILLS have been built in order to produce electricity
wind gauge /'wInd geIdʒ/ n an instrument which measures
the strength of the wind
wind-ing /'waIdIng/ adj having a twisting turning shape: a
winding path | winding stairs → see also WIND
winding sheet /'waIdIng ʃi:t/ n a SHROUD
wind in·stru·ment /'wInd ,Instrʃmənt/ n a musical instru-
ment played by blowing air through it: Trumpets and
clarinets are wind instruments.
The Wind in the Willows
Wind in the Wil·lows, The /,wInd In ðə 'wIləuz/ (1908)
a famous book for children by Kenneth GRAHAME. It describes
the adventures of a group of animals who talk and behave
like humans, and the main characters include Mole and Ratty,
who live on the river bank, and TOAD OF TOAD HALL, who is
very rich and lives in a large house. Many plays and films
have been based on the book.
wind-jam·mer /'wInd,dʒæmə/ n a large sailing ship, espe-
cially of a type that was used for trade in the 19th century
wind-lass /'wIndləs/ n a machine for pulling or moving
objects by means of a turning part, often with a handle
wind-mill /'wInd,mIl/ n 1 a) a building or structure with
large sails or similar parts which are turned round by the
wind, used especially for crushing grain b) also wind turbine
— a similar machine used to produce power for electricity:
windmill farms in California 2 also pinwheel AmE — a toy
consisting of a stick with usually four small curved pieces at
the end which turn round when blown → see also tilt at
windmills (TILT)
Win·do·lene /'wIndəuli:n/ trademark a special type of liquid
used for cleaning windows, sold in the UK
win·dow /'wIndəu/ n 1 a) usually glass-filled opening in
the wall of a building, in a vehicle etc, to let in light and air:
the bedroom windows | It's cold in here; shut the window. | She
sat looking out of the window. | The car has a heated rear