wrap
1596
(fig.) He wrapped (=hid) his meaning in a lot of pseudo-scientific jargon. → see also GIFT-WRAP 2 [+adv/prep, especially (a)round] to fold (a material) over: I wrapped the rug around the sick man's legs to keep him warm. | She had a bandage wrapped round her finger.
wrap up phr v 1 [I] to wear warm clothes: Wrap up well – it's cold outside! 2 [T] (wrap sthg. ↔ up) infml to complete (a business arrangement, a meeting etc): Now the trade agreement is wrapped up all we have to do is wait for the first orders. 3 [I usually imperative] infml to be quiet; SHUT up 4 wrapped up in giving all one's love or attention to: She's so wrapped up in him she can't see his faults. | wrapped up in one's own thoughts
wrap
wrap² n 1 a piece of thick cloth that is worn around the shoulders, especially by women; a SHAWL 2 under wraps secret: Details of the President's visit were kept under wraps for security reasons. 3 a dish which is popular in the US, consisting of meat, vegetables, cheese etc wrapped in a flat, circle-shaped bread. Wraps are similar to BURRITOS but they do not have a TEX-MEX taste. 4 that's a wrap/it's a wrap a phrase used by a film director to show that people can stop filming something because it is considered finished
wrap·a·rounds /'ræpəraʊndz/ n [P] SUNGLASSES that are curved in such a way that they fit close to your face, from one ear to the other
wrap·per /'ræpər/ n a piece of paper which forms a loose cover: a book's wrapper
wrap·ping /'ræpɪŋ/ also wrappings pl. — n [C;U] material used for folding round and covering something: I undid the wrapping(s) and looked inside.
'wrapping paper n [U] paper, usually covered in attractive patterns, for wrapping presents
wrath /rɒθ|ræθ/ n [U] fml or lit strong fierce anger especially based on the desire to punish someone for harm done to oneself: the wrath of God | Management incurred the wrath of the union by breaking the agreement. —ful adj —fully adv
wreak /ri:k/ v [T(on)] especially lit to do (violence) or express (strong feelings) violently: We shall wreak a terrible vengeance on our enemies. | These floods are wreaking havoc (=causing destruction and confusion) in low-lying areas.
wreath /ri:θ/ n pl. wreaths /ri:ðz, ri:θs/ 1 an arrangement of flowers or leaves, especially in a circle. Wreaths are often given at a funeral or hung on the front door at Christmas in celebration of the season: She laid a wreath on his grave. → see Feature on page A10 2 a circle of leaves or flowers placed on the head or round the neck of someone to honour them: a laurel wreath 3 [(of)] especially lit a curl of smoke, mist, gas etc
wreathe /ri:ð/ v especially lit 1 [T] to circle round and cover completely: Mist wreathed the hilltops. | (fig.) Her face was wreathed in smiles. (=She was smiling very happily) 2 [+adv/prep] (of smoke, mist, gas etc) to move gently in circles: The fog wreathed round the street light.
wreck¹ /rek/ n 1 [C] a ship lost at sea or (partly) destroyed on rocks: the wreck of an old Spanish galleon | Divers have found a hoard of gold in the wreck. → see also SHIP-WRECK 2 [U] the state of being ruined or destroyed: the wreck of all her hopes 3 [C] infml something ruined or (partly) destroyed: Have you seen that old wreck he drives around in? 4 [C] a person whose health or spirits have been destroyed: He's been a complete wreck since his illness. | This job is turning me into a nervous wreck.
wreck² v [T] 1 [often pass; not in progressive forms] a) to cause (a ship) to be destroyed: The ship was wrecked on the rocks. b) to cause (the people on a ship) to be in a SHIPWRECK: We were wrecked off the coast of Africa. 2 to bring to a ruined or unusable state; destroy: The weather has completely wrecked our plans.
wreck·age /'rekɪdʒ/ n [U] the broken parts of a destroyed thing: The wreckage of the aircraft was spread over a five-mile area. | (fig.) trying to put together the wreckage of my life/of our marriage
wreck·er /'rekər/ n 1 a person who destroys, especially (in former times) one who tried to cause a ship to be caught on rocks in order to be able to steal from it 2 a person whose job is to bring out goods from ships which have been wrecked, so that they will not be lost 3 AmE a vehicle used for moving other vehicles when these have stopped working, or after accidents
wren /ren/ n a very small brown European and North American bird
Wren n infml a member of the WRNS
Wren, Sir Christopher (1632–1723) a British ARCHITECT who built many churches in London, including SAINT PAUL'S CATHEDRAL, and other buildings in the UK, such as the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford
wrench¹ /rentʃ/ v [T] 1 [+obj+adv/prep] to pull hard and often violently with a twisting or turning movement: He wrenched the gun from/out of her hands. | I wrenched the door open. | She wrenched the lid off. 2 to twist and damage (a joint of the body): I fell and wrenched my ankle. 3 to cause great suffering of the mind or very painful feelings: a heart-wrenching story
wrench² n 1 an act of twisting and pulling something hard and perhaps violently 2 damage to a joint of the body by twisting: I've given my knee a bad wrench. 3 [C usually sing.] something, especially a separation, that causes great suffering of the mind or very painful feelings: the wrench of leaving one's family 4 a) also monkey wrench AmE for SPANNER b) BrE a SPANNER with jaws that can be moved so as to be close together or far apart → see picture at TOOL
wrest /rest/ v [T+obj+adv/prep, especially from, out of] 1 to pull (away) violently: He wrested it from her hands. 2 especially lit to obtain with difficulty: We wrested victory from the jaws of defeat. | The farmers in this area have to struggle to wrest a living from the infertile soil.
wres·tle /'resl/ v [I (with);T] 1 to fight by trying to hold or throw one's opponent: She wrestled with her attacker. | She wrestled him to the ground. | (fig.) wrestling with a difficult examination paper 2 to fight (someone) like this as a sport (wrestling) → compare BOX —tler n
wres·tling /'reslɪŋ/ n [U] a sport in which two people fight in a ring, trying to hold or throw each other against the ropes or onto the floor. In Britain it is thought of as a working-class sport. Because the winners have often been secretly agreed on before the MATCHES, the sport is treated as entertainment rather than a real competition.
wretch /retʃ/ n 1 an unfortunate or unhappy person: poor homeless wretches 2 often humor a bad or useless person: You wretch! You're late again.
wretch·ed /'retʃɪd/ adj 1 a) very unhappy; in very low spirits: He's in bed with a bad cold, feeling pretty wretched. | I feel wretched about having to disappoint her. b) causing unhappiness, discomfort etc: a wretched life/headache 2 extremely bad: What wretched weather! 3 [A] used to express annoyance): I can't find my wretched keys. Why can't that wretched child behave himself? 4 wretched refuse quote a phrase taken from the words written on the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor → see STATUE OF LIBERTY —ly adv —ness n [U]
wrig·gle¹ /'rɪgəl/ v 1 [I] to twist from side to side with short quick movements, either in one place or when moving along: He wriggled uncomfortably on the hard chair. | (fig.) The prosecution have got a pretty strong case against him – he'll be lucky to wriggle free this time! 2 [T] to move (a part of the body) in this way; WIGGLE: Wriggle your toes.
wriggle out of sthg. phr v [T] infml to escape (a difficult situation or responsibility) by clever tricks, by pretending etc: You know you're to blame, so don't try to wriggle out of it. | [+v-ing] I'd hoped to wriggle out of telling her.
wriggle² n a wriggling movement