Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

wind 1       (wĭnd)  Pronunciation Key  n.   Moving air, especially a natural and perceptible movement of air parallel to or along the ground. A movement of air generated artificially, as by bellows or a fan. The direction from which a movement of air comes: The wind is north-northwest. A movement of air coming from one of the four cardinal points of the compass: the four winds. Breath, especially normal or adequate breathing; respiration: had the wind knocked out of them. Gas produced in the stomach or intestines during digestion; flatulence. The brass and woodwinds sections of a band or orchestra. Often used in the plural. Wind instruments or their players considered as a group. Often used in the plural. Woodwinds. Often used in the plural. Something that disrupts or destroys: the winds of war. A tendency; a trend: the winds of change. Speech or writing empty of meaning; verbiage: His remarks on the subject are nothing but wind. Vain self-importance; pomposity: an expert who was full of wind even before becoming famous. The direction from which a movement of air comes: The wind is north-northwest. A movement of air coming from one of the four cardinal points of the compass: the four winds. Breath, especially normal or adequate breathing; respiration: had the wind knocked out of them. Gas produced in the stomach or intestines during digestion; flatulence. The brass and woodwinds sections of a band or orchestra. Often used in the plural. Wind instruments or their players considered as a group. Often used in the plural. Woodwinds. Often used in the plural. Something that disrupts or destroys: the winds of war. A tendency; a trend: the winds of change. Speech or writing empty of meaning; verbiage: His remarks on the subject are nothing but wind. Vain self-importance; pomposity: an expert who was full of wind even before becoming famous. Moving air carrying sound, an odor, or a scent. Breath, especially normal or adequate breathing; respiration: had the wind knocked out of them. Gas produced in the stomach or intestines during digestion; flatulence. The brass and woodwinds sections of a band or orchestra. Often used in the plural. Wind instruments or their players considered as a group. Often used in the plural. Woodwinds. Often used in the plural. Something that disrupts or destroys: the winds of war. A tendency; a trend: the winds of change. Speech or writing empty of meaning; verbiage: His remarks on the subject are nothing but wind. Vain self-importance; pomposity: an expert who was full of wind even before becoming famous. Music The brass and woodwinds sections of a band or orchestra. Often used in the plural. Wind instruments or their players considered as a group. Often used in the plural. Woodwinds. Often used in the plural. Something that disrupts or destroys: the winds of war. A tendency; a trend: the winds of change. Speech or writing empty of meaning; verbiage: His remarks on the subject are nothing but wind. Vain self-importance; pomposity: an expert who was full of wind even before becoming famous. Something that disrupts or destroys: the winds of war. A tendency; a trend: the winds of change. Speech or writing empty of meaning; verbiage: His remarks on the subject are nothing but wind. Vain self-importance; pomposity: an expert who was full of wind even before becoming famous. Information, especially of something concealed; intimation: Trouble will ensue if wind of this scandal gets out. Speech or writing empty of meaning; verbiage: His remarks on the subject are nothing but wind. Vain self-importance; pomposity: an expert who was full of wind even before becoming famous. tr.v.   wind·ed, wind·ing, winds To expose to free movement of air; ventilate or dry. To detect the smell of; catch a scent of. To pursue by following a scent. To cause to be out of or short of breath. To afford a recovery of breath: stopped to wind and water the horses. [Middle English, from Old English; see wē- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

wind 2       (wīnd)  Pronunciation Key  v.   wound (wound), wind·ing, winds v.   tr. To wrap (something) around a center or another object once or repeatedly: wind string around a spool. To wrap or encircle (an object) in a series of coils; entwine: wound her injured leg with a bandage; wound the waist of the gown with lace and ribbons. To go along (a curving or twisting course): wind a path through the mountains. To proceed on (one's way) with a curving or twisting course. To coil the spring of (a mechanism) by turning a stem or cord, for example: wind a watch. To coil (thread, for example), as onto a spool or into a ball. To remove or unwind (thread, for example), as from a spool: wound the line off the reel. To introduce in a disguised or devious manner; insinuate: He wound a plea for money into his letter. To turn (a crank, for example) in a series of circular motions. To coil the spring of (a mechanism) by turning a stem or cord, for example: wind a watch. To coil (thread, for example), as onto a spool or into a ball. To remove or unwind (thread, for example), as from a spool: wound the line off the reel. To lift or haul by means of a windlass or winch: Wind the pail to the top of the well. v.   intr. To move in or have a curving or twisting course: a river winding through a valley. To move in or have a spiral or circular course: a column of smoke winding into the sky. To be coiled or spiraled: The vine wound about the trellis. To be twisted or whorled into curved forms. To proceed misleadingly or insidiously in discourse or conduct. To become wound: a clock that winds with difficulty. n.   The act of winding. A single turn, twist, or curve. Phrasal Verb(s): wind down Informal To diminish gradually in energy, intensity, or scope: The party wound down as guests began to leave. To relax; unwind. wind up To come or bring to a finish; end: when the meeting wound up; wind up a project. To put in order; settle: wound up her affairs before leaving the country. Informal To arrive in a place or situation after or because of a course of action: took a long walk and wound up at the edge of town; overspent and wound up in debt. Baseball To swing back the arm and raise the foot in preparation for pitching the ball. [Middle English winden, from Old English windan.]

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

wind 3       (wīnd, wĭnd)  Pronunciation Key  tr.v.   wind·ed (wīn'dĭd, wĭn'-) or wound (wound), wind·ing, winds Music To blow (a wind instrument). To sound by blowing. [From wind1.] wind'er n.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
wind  (n.)

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
wind  (v.)

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

wind
noun
1.	air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure; "trees bent under the fierce winds"; "when there is no wind, row"; "the radioactivity was being swept upwards by the air current and out into the atmosphere"
2.	a tendency or force that influences events; "the winds of change"
3.	breath; "the collision knocked the wind out of him"
4.	empty rhetoric or insincere or exaggerated talk; "that's a lot of wind"; "don't give me any of that jazz"
5.	an indication of potential opportunity; "he got a tip on the stock market"; "a good lead for a job" [syn: tip]
6.	a musical instrument in which the sound is produced by an enclosed column of air that is moved by the breath [syn: wind instrument]
7.	a reflex that expels intestinal gas through the anus [syn: fart]
8.	the act of winding or twisting; "he put the key in the old clock and gave it a good wind"
verb
1.	to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course; "the river winds through the hills"; "the path meanders through the vineyards"; "sometimes, the gout wanders through the entire body" [syn: weave]
2.	extend in curves and turns; "The road winds around the lake"; "the path twisted through the forest"
3.	arrange or or coil around; "roll your hair around your finger"; "Twine the thread around the spool"; "She wrapped her arms around the child" [ant: unroll]
4.	catch the scent of; get wind of; "The dog nosed out the drugs" [syn: scent]
5.	coil the spring of (some mechanical device) by turning a stem; "wind your watch"
6.	form into a wreath [syn: wreathe]
7.	raise or haul up with or as if with mechanical help; "hoist the bicycle onto the roof of the car" [syn: hoist]

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

wind

In addition to the idioms beginning with wind, also see before the wind; break wind; get wind of; gone with the wind; ill wind; in the wind; like greased lightning (the wind); sail close to the wind; second wind; something in the wind; straw in the wind; take the wind out of one's sails; three sheets to the wind; throw caution to the winds; twist in the wind; way the wind blows.

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

wind       (wĭnd)  Pronunciation Key  (click for larger image in new window) A current of air, especially a natural one that moves along or parallel to the ground, moving from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. Surface wind is measured by anemometers or its effect on objects, such as trees. The large-scale pattern of winds on Earth is governed primarily by differences in the net solar radiation received at the Earth's surface, but it is also influenced by the Earth's rotation, by the distribution of continents and oceans, by ocean currents, and by topography. On a local scale, the differences in rate of heating and cooling of land versus bodies of water greatly affect wind formation. Prevailing global winds are classified into three major belts in the Northern Hemisphere and three corresponding belts in the Southern Hemisphere. The trade winds blow generally east to west toward a low-pressure zone at the equator throughout the region from 30° north to 30° south of the equator. The westerlies blow from west to east in the temperate mid-latitude regions (from 30° to 60° north and south of the equator), and the polar easterlies blow from east to west out of high-pressure areas in the polar regions. See also Beaufort scale, chinook, foehn, monsoon, Santa Ana.

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Wind Gap, PA (borough, FIPS 85664) Location: 40.84755 N, 75.29168 W
Population (1990): 2741 (1164 housing units)
Area: 3.5 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 18091

Wind Lake, WI (CDP, FIPS 87675) Location: 42.82243 N, 88.15680 W
Population (1990): 3748 (1411 housing units)
Area: 12.2 sq km (land), 4.9 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 53185

Wind Ridge, PA Zip code(s): 15380

Wind Point, WI (village, FIPS 87700) Location: 42.78166 N, 87.77293 W
Population (1990): 1941 (738 housing units)
Area: 3.2 sq km (land), 0.4 sq km (water)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Wind

Air\ ([^a]r), n. [OE. air, eir, F. air, L. a["e]r, fr. Gr. 'ah`r, air, mist, for 'a[digamma]hr, fr. root 'a[digamma] to blow, breathe, probably akin to E. wind. In sense 10 the French has taking a meaning fr. It. aria atmosphere, air, fr. the same Latin word; and in senses 11, 12, 13 the French meaning is either fr. L. aria, or due to confusion with F. aire, in an older sense of origin, descent. Cf. A["e]ry, Debonair, Malaria, Wind.]

1. The fluid which we breathe, and which surrounds the earth; the atmosphere. It is invisible, inodorous, insipid, transparent, compressible, elastic, and ponderable.

Note: By the ancient philosophers, air was regarded as an element; but modern science has shown that it is essentially a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen, with a small amount of carbon dioxide, the average proportions being, by volume: oxygen, 20.96 per cent.; nitrogen, 79.00 per cent.; carbon dioxide, 0.04 per cent. These proportions are subject to a very slight variability. Air also always contains some vapor of water.

2. Symbolically: Something unsubstantial, light, or volatile. "Charm ache with air." --Shak.

He was still all air and fire. [Air and fire being the finer and quicker elements as opposed to earth and water.] --Macaulay .

3. A particular state of the atmosphere, as respects heat, cold, moisture, etc., or as affecting the sensations; as, a smoky air, a damp air, the morning air, etc.

4. Any a["e]riform body; a gas; as, oxygen was formerly called vital air. [Obs.]

5. Air in motion; a light breeze; a gentle wind.

Let vernal airs through trembling osiers play. --Pope.

6. Odoriferous or contaminated air.

7. That which surrounds and influences.

The keen, the wholesome air of poverty. --Wordsworth.

8. Utterance abroad; publicity; vent.

You gave it air before me. --Dryden.

9. Intelligence; information. [Obs.] --Bacon.

10. (Mus.) (a) A musical idea, or motive, rhythmically developed in consecutive single tones, so as to form a symmetrical and balanced whole, which may be sung by a single voice to the stanzas of a hymn or song, or even to plain prose, or played upon an instrument; a melody; a tune; an aria. (b) In harmonized chorals, psalmody, part songs, etc., the part which bears the tune or melody -- in modern harmony usually the upper part -- is sometimes called the air.

11. The peculiar look, appearance, and bearing of a person; mien; demeanor; as, the air of a youth; a heavy air; a lofty air. "His very air." --Shak.

12. Peculiar appearance; apparent character; semblance; manner; style.

It was communicated with the air of a secret. --Pope.

12. pl. An artificial or affected manner; show of pride or vanity; haughtiness; as, it is said of a person, he puts on airs. --Thackeray.

14. (Paint.) (a) The representation or reproduction of the effect of the atmospheric medium through which every object in nature is viewed. --New Am. Cyc. (b) Carriage; attitude; action; movement; as, the head of that portrait has a good air. --Fairholt.

15. (Man.) The artificial motion or carriage of a horse.

Note: Air is much used adjectively or as the first part of a compound term. In most cases it might be written indifferently, as a separate limiting word, or as the first element of the compound term, with or without the hyphen; as, air bladder, air-bladder, or airbladder; air cell, air-cell, or aircell; air-pump, or airpump.

Air balloon. See Balloon.

Air bath. (a) An apparatus for the application of air to the body. (b) An arrangement for drying substances in air of any desired temperature.

Air castle. See Castle in the air, under Castle.

Air compressor, a machine for compressing air to be used as a motive power.

Air crossing, a passage for air in a mine.

Air cushion, an air-tight cushion which can be inflated; also, a device for arresting motion without shock by confined air.

Air fountain, a contrivance for producing a jet of water by the force of compressed air.

Air furnace, a furnace which depends on a natural draft and not on blast.

Air line, a straight line; a bee line. Hence

Air-line, adj.; as, air-line road.

Air lock (Hydr. Engin.), an intermediate chamber between the outer air and the compressed-air chamber of a pneumatic caisson. --Knight.

Air port (Nav.), a scuttle or porthole in a ship to admit air.

Air spring, a spring in which the elasticity of air is utilized.

Air thermometer, a form of thermometer in which the contraction and expansion of air is made to measure changes of temperature.

Air threads, gossamer.

Air trap, a contrivance for shutting off foul air or gas from drains, sewers, etc.; a stench trap.

Air trunk, a pipe or shaft for conducting foul or heated air from a room.

Air valve, a valve to regulate the admission or egress of air; esp. a valve which opens inwardly in a steam boiler and allows air to enter.

Air way, a passage for a current of air; as the air way of an air pump; an air way in a mine.

In the air. (a) Prevalent without traceable origin or authority, as rumors. (b) Not in a fixed or stable position; unsettled. (c) (Mil.) Unsupported and liable to be turned or taken in flank; as, the army had its wing in the air.

To take air, to be divulged; to be made public.

To take the air, to go abroad; to walk or ride out.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Wind

Wind\, n. (Boxing) The region of the pit of the stomach, where a blow may paralyze the diaphragm and cause temporary loss of breath or other injury; the mark. [Slang or Cant]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

wind

Out\, adv. [OE. out, ut, oute, ute, AS. [=u]t, and [=u]te, [=u]tan, fr. [=u]t; akin to D. uit, OS. [=u]t, G. aus, OHG. [=u]z, Icel. [=u]t, Sw. ut, Dan. ud, Goth. ut, Skr. ud. [root]198. Cf. About, But, prep., Carouse, Utter, a.] In its original and strict sense, out means from the interior of something; beyond the limits or boundary of somethings; in a position or relation which is exterior to something; -- opposed to in or into. The something may be expressed after of, from, etc. (see Out of, below); or, if not expressed, it is implied; as, he is out; or, he is out of the house, office, business, etc.; he came out; or, he came out from the ship, meeting, sect, party, etc. Out is used in a variety of applications, as:

1. Away; abroad; off; from home, or from a certain, or a usual, place; not in; not in a particular, or a usual, place; as, the proprietor is out, his team was taken out. "My shoulder blade is out." --Shak.

He hath been out (of the country) nine years. --Shak.

2. Beyond the limits of concealment, confinement, privacy, constraint, etc., actual of figurative; hence, not in concealment, constraint, etc., in, or into, a state of freedom, openness, disclosure, publicity, etc.; as, the sun shines out; he laughed out, to be out at the elbows; the secret has leaked out, or is out; the disease broke out on his face; the book is out.

Leaves are out and perfect in a month. --Bacon.

She has not been out [in general society] very long. --H. James.

3. Beyond the limit of existence, continuance, or supply; to the end; completely; hence, in, or into, a condition of extinction, exhaustion, completion; as, the fuel, or the fire, has burned out. "Hear me out." --Dryden.

Deceitiful men shall not live out half their days. --Ps. iv. 23.

When the butt is out, we will drink water. --Shak.

4. Beyond possession, control, or occupation; hence, in, or into, a state of want, loss, or deprivation; -- used of office, business, property, knowledge, etc.; as, the Democrats went out and the Whigs came in; he put his money out at interest. "Land that is out at rack rent." --Locke. "He was out fifty pounds." --Bp. Fell.

I have forgot my part, and I am out. --Shak.

5. Beyond the bounds of what is true, reasonable, correct, proper, common, etc.; in error or mistake; in a wrong or incorrect position or opinion; in a state of disagreement, opposition, etc.; in an inharmonious relation. "Lancelot and I are out." --Shak.

Wicked men are strangely out in the calculating of their own interest. --South.

Very seldom out, in these his guesses. --Addison.

6. Not in the position to score in playing a game; not in the state or turn of the play for counting or gaining scores.

Note: Out is largely used in composition as a prefix, with the same significations that it has as a separate word; as outbound, outbreak, outbuilding, outcome, outdo, outdoor, outfield. See also the first Note under Over, adv.

Day in, day out, from the beginning to the limit of each of several days; day by day; every day.

Out and out. (a) adv. Completely; wholly; openly. (b) adj. Without any reservation or disguise; absolute; as, an out and out villain. [As an adj. written also out-and-out.]

Out at, Out in, Out on, etc., elliptical phrases, that to which out refers as a source, origin, etc., being omitted; as, out (of the house and) at the barn; out (of the house, road, fields, etc., and) in the woods.

Three fishers went sailing out into the west, Out into the west, as the sun went down. --C. Kingsley.

Note: In these lines after out may be understood, "of the harbor," "from the shore," "of sight," or some similar phrase. The complete construction is seen in the saying: "Out of the frying pan into the fire."

Out from, a construction similar to out of (below). See Of and From.

Out of, a phrase which may be considered either as composed of an adverb and a preposition, each having its appropriate office in the sentence, or as a compound preposition. Considered as a preposition, it denotes, with verbs of movement or action, from the interior of; beyond the limit: from; hence, origin, source, motive, departure, separation, loss, etc.; -- opposed to in or into; also with verbs of being, the state of being derived, removed, or separated from. Examples may be found in the phrases below, and also under Vocabulary words; as, out of breath; out of countenance.

Out of cess, beyond measure, excessively. --Shak.

Out of character, unbecoming; improper.

Out of conceit with, not pleased with. See under Conceit.

Out of date, not timely; unfashionable; antiquated.

Out of door, Out of doors, beyond the doors; from the house; in, or into, the open air; hence, figuratively, shut out; dismissed. See under Door, also, Out-of-door, Outdoor, Outdoors, in the Vocabulary. "He 's quality, and the question's out of door," --Dryden.

Out of favor, disliked; under displeasure.

Out of frame, not in correct order or condition; irregular; disarranged. --Latimer.

Out of hand, immediately; without delay or preparation. "Ananias . . . fell down and died out of hand." --Latimer.

Out of harm's way, beyond the danger limit; in a safe place.

Out of joint, not in proper connection or adjustment; unhinged; disordered. "The time is out of joint." --Shak.

Out of mind, not in mind; forgotten; also, beyond the limit of memory; as, time out of mind.

Out of one's head, beyond commanding one's mental powers; in a wandering state mentally; delirious. [Colloq.]

Out of one's time, beyond one's period of minority or apprenticeship.

Out of order, not in proper order; disarranged; in confusion.

Out of place, not in the usual or proper place; hence, not proper or becoming.

Out of pocket, in a condition of having expended or lost more money than one has received.

Out of print, not in market, the edition printed being exhausted; -- said of books, pamphlets, etc.

Out of the question, beyond the limits or range of consideration; impossible to be favorably considered.

Out of reach, beyond one's reach; inaccessible.

Out of season, not in a proper season or time; untimely; inopportune.

Out of sorts, wanting certain things; unsatisfied; unwell; unhappy; cross. See under Sort, n.

Out of temper, not in good temper; irritated; angry.

Out of time, not in proper time; too soon, or too late.

Out of time, not in harmony; discordant; hence, not in an agreeing temper; fretful.

Out of twist, winding, or wind, not in warped condition; perfectly plain and smooth; -- said of surfaces.

Out of use, not in use; unfashionable; obsolete.

Out of the way. (a) On one side; hard to reach or find; secluded. (b) Improper; unusual; wrong.

Out of the woods, not in a place, or state, of obscurity or doubt; free from difficulty or perils; safe. [Colloq.]

Out to out, from one extreme limit to another, including the whole length, breadth, or thickness; -- applied to measurements.

Out West, in or towards, the West; specifically, in some Western State or Territory. [U. S.]

To come out, To cut out, To fall out, etc. See under Come, Cut, Fall, etc.

To put out of the way, to kill; to destroy.

Week in, week out. See Day in, day out (above).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Wind

Un*wind"\, v. t. [AS. unwindan. See 1st Un-, and Wind to coil.]

1. To wind off; to loose or separate, as what or convolved; to untwist; to untwine; as, to unwind thread; to unwind a ball of yarn.

2. To disentangle. [Obs.] --Hooker.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Wind

Ven"ti*late\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ventilated; p. pr. & vb. n. Ventilating.] [L. ventilatus, p. p. of ventilare to toss, brandish in the air, to fan, to winnow, from ventus wind; akin to E. wind. See Wind rushing air.]

1. To open and expose to the free passage of air; to supply with fresh air, and remove impure air from; to air; as, to ventilate a room; to ventilate a cellar; to ventilate a mine.

2. To provide with a vent, or escape, for air, gas, etc.; as, to ventilate a mold, or a water-wheel bucket.

3. To change or renew, as the air of a room. --Harvey.

4. To winnow; to fan; as, to ventilate wheat.

5. To sift and examine; to bring out, and subject to penetrating scrutiny; to expose to examination and discussion; as, to ventilate questions of policy. --Ayliffe.

6. To give vent; to utter; to make public.

Macaulay took occasion to ventilate one of those starling, but not very profound, paradoxes. --J. C. Shairp.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Wind

Wan"der\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Wandered; p. pr. & vb. n. Wandering.] [OE. wandren, wandrien, AS. wandrian; akin to G. wandern to wander; fr. AS. windan to turn. See Wind to turn.]

1. To ramble here and there without any certain course or with no definite object in view; to range about; to stroll; to rove; as, to wander over the fields.

They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins. --Heb. xi. 37.

He wandereth abroad for bread. --Job xv. 23.

2. To go away; to depart; to stray off; to deviate; to go astray; as, a writer wanders from his subject.

When God caused me to wander from my father's house. --Gen. xx. 13.

O, let me not wander from thy commandments. --Ps. cxix. 10.

3. To be delirious; not to be under the guidance of reason; to rave; as, the mind wanders.

Syn: To roam; rove; range; stroll; gad; stray; straggly; err; swerve; deviate; depart.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Wind

Wend\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Wended, Obs. Went; p. pr. & vb. n. Wending.] [AS. wendan to turn, to go, caus. of windan to wind; akin to OS. wendian, OFries. wenda, D. wenden to turn, G. wenden, Icel. venda, Sw. v["a]nda, Dan. vende, Goth. wandjan. See