26984 words

wind

16 definitions • 25 examples
1
a current of air moving approximately horizontally, especially one strong enough to be felt:

Examples:

There isn't enough wind to fly a kite.
The forecast warned of winds of up to 60 miles an hour today.
There was a light wind blowing.
Strong/High winds made the crossing very choppy.
in the wind The sails flapped in the wind.
breath of wind literary There wasn't a breath of (= even a slight amount of) wind.
gust of wind A gust of wind suddenly caught her skirt.
wind picks up The wind is beginning to pick up (= get stronger).
like the wind She ran like the wind (= very fast) to catch up.
2
breath or the ability to breathe:

Examples:

knock the wind out of The blow to my stomach knocked the wind out of me.
3
words that do not mean anything and false statements:

Examples:

I rarely bother to listen to politicians' speeches - it's all just wind.
4
gas in the bowels or in a baby's stomach, especially when this makes you feel uncomfortable or makes noises:

Examples:

I like garlic but it gives me terrible wind.
5
the group of woodwind instruments (= ones played by blowing into a hole near one end)and their players in an orchestra:

Examples:

I thought the wind section was especially impressive.
6
to make it difficult or temporarily impossible for someone to breathe, usually by hitting them in the stomach
7
to rub or very gently hit a baby on the back to allow air to come up from the stomach
8
to turn or cause something to turn:

Examples:

She wound the handle but nothing happened.
wind something down/up Once she was in the car, she wound the window down/up (= caused it to open/close by turning a handle).
wind back That noise you can hear is the tape winding back.
9
If you wind (up) a clock or watch, you cause it to work by turning a key, handle, or other device.
10
If a road, path, or river winds, it follows a route that turns repeatedly in different directions:

Examples:

The river winds through the valley.
11
to wrap something around an object several times or twist it repeatedly around itself:

Examples:

wind something around something She wound a scarf around her neck.
wind something into something He wound the string into a ball.
wind something round something UK He wound a small bandage round her finger.
12
the movement of air outside, esp. when strong enough to be felt:

Examples:

[ U ] The wind is so strong that it’s hard to keep an umbrella up.
[ C ] We expect light winds from the west today.
13
breath or the ability to breathe:

Examples:

She ran so hard that it took her a few seconds to get her wind (back) before she could speak.
14
to twist something around something else or turn something in a circle:

Examples:

[ T ] She wound the string around the spool.
15
To wind a mechanical device is to cause it to work by turning a key or handle.
16
(of a road, path, or river) to follow a route that turns repeatedly in different directions:

Examples:

The river winds through the valley.

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