plural
winds
plural
winds
Britannica Dictionary definition of WIND
2
[count]
:
something that has force or influence
-
the changing/shifting winds of political opinion
-
The winds of change have begun to blow. [=change is going to happen; change is in the air]
-
Her political opinions depend on which way the wind is blowing. [=what opinions are popular at the time]
3
[noncount]
:
the ability to breathe normally
-
I needed to rest to get my wind back after the climb. [=to stop breathing hard and begin to breathe normally]
-
The fall knocked the wind out of me. [=knocked the air out of my lungs and made me unable to breathe normally for a brief time]
—
see also second wind
4
[noncount]
British
:
gas in the stomach or intestines
5
winds
[plural]
music
:
musical instruments (such as flutes and horns) that are played by blowing air into them
:
wind instruments
break wind
:
to pass gas out of the anus
catch/get wind of (something)
:
to hear about (something private or secret)
get/have the wind up
British, informal
:
to become/be afraid or nervous
put the wind up (someone)
British, informal
:
to make (someone) afraid or nervous
sail close to the wind
—
see 1sail
straw in the wind
—
see straw
take the wind out of someone's sails
:
to cause someone to lose confidence or energy
three sheets to the wind
—
see 2sheet
throw/fling/cast caution to the wind
—
see 1caution
2
wind
/ˈwaɪnd/
verb
winds;
wound
/ˈwaʊnd/
;
winding
winds;
wound
/ˈwaʊnd/
;
winding
Britannica Dictionary definition of WIND
1
of a river, road, etc.
:
to follow a series of curves and turns
[no object]
[+ object]
2
[+ object]
:
to wrap (something, such as a string) around something
-
He wound more twine around the box.
-
wind thread on a spool
-
She wound the scarf around her neck.
-
The machine winds the tape from one reel to the other.
3
[+ object]
:
to turn a knob, handle, etc., on something (such as a clock) several times so that it can work
—
often + up
wind down
[phrasal verb]
2
:
to relax and stop thinking about work, problems, etc.
:
unwind
wind up
[phrasal verb]
2
wind (something) up
or
wind up (something)
:
to end or complete (something)
3
:
to reach or come to a place, situation, or condition that was not planned or expected
-
They wound up [=ended up] being millionaires.
-
Although she studied art, she wound up [=ended up] working in publishing.
-
After a wrong turn, we wound up in an unfamiliar neighborhood.
—
see also 2wind 3 (above), wound up
— winder
/ˈwaɪndɚ/
noun,
plural
winders
[count]