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win

 - 7 dictionary results

win

1  [win] verb, won, win⋅ning, noun
Use win in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to finish first in a race, contest, or the like.
2. to succeed by striving or effort: He applied for a scholarship and won.
3. to gain the victory; overcome an adversary: The home team won.
–verb (used with object)
4. to succeed in reaching (a place, condition, etc.), esp. by great effort: They won the shore through a violent storm.
5. to get by effort, as through labor, competition, or conquest: He won his post after years of striving.
6. to gain (a prize, fame, etc.).
7. to be successful in (a game, battle, etc.).
8. to make (one's way), as by effort or ability.
9. to attain or reach (a point, goal, etc.).
10. to gain (favor, love, consent, etc.), as by qualities or influence.
11. to gain the favor, regard, or adherence of.
12. to gain the consent or support of; persuade (often fol. by over): The speech won them over to our side.
13. to persuade to marry; gain in marriage.
14. British Mining.
a. to obtain (ore, coal, etc.).
b. to prepare (a vein, bed, mine, etc.) for working, by means of shafts or the like.
–noun
15. a victory, as in a game or horse race.
16. the position of the competitor who comes in first in a horse race, harness race, etc. Compare place (def. 27b), show (def. 27).
—Verb phrase
17. win out, to win or succeed, esp. over great odds; triumph: His finer nature finally won out.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME winnen (v.), OE winnan to work, fight, bear; c. G gewinnen, ON vinna, Goth winnan

Related forms:
win⋅na⋅ble, adjective

Synonyms:
5. obtain, secure, acquire, achieve, reach, procure. See gain 1 . 12. convince.

win

2  [win]
–verb (used with object), winned, win⋅ning. Scot. and North England.
to dry (hay, wood, etc.) by exposure to air and sun.
Origin:
1550–60; perh. var. of winnow
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To win
win   (wĭn)   
v.   won (wŭn), win·ning, wins

v.   intr.

  1. To achieve victory or finish first in a competition.

  2. To achieve success in an effort or venture: struggled to overcome the handicap and finally won.

v.   tr.

  1. To achieve victory or finish first in.

  2. To receive as a prize or reward for performance.

    1. To achieve or attain by effort: win concessions in negotiations.

    2. To obtain or earn (a livelihood, for example). See Synonyms at earn1.

    3. To gain the affection or loyalty of.

    4. To appeal successfully to (someone's sympathy, for example).

    5. To persuade (another) to marry one: He wooed and won her.

    6. To discover and open (a vein or deposit) in mining.

    7. To extract from a mine or from mined ore.

  4. To make (one's way) with effort.

  5. To reach with difficulty: The ship won a safe port.

  6. To take in battle; capture: won the heights after a fierce attack.

  7. To succeed in gaining the favor or support of; prevail on: Her eloquence won over the audience.

    1. To gain the affection or loyalty of.

    2. To appeal successfully to (someone's sympathy, for example).

    3. To persuade (another) to marry one: He wooed and won her.

    4. To discover and open (a vein or deposit) in mining.

    5. To extract from a mine or from mined ore.

    1. To discover and open (a vein or deposit) in mining.

    2. To extract from a mine or from mined ore.

n.  

    1. A victory, especially in a competition.

    2. First place in a competition.

  2. An amount won or earned.

Phrasal Verb(s):
win outTo succeed or prevail.
win throughTo overcome difficulties and attain a desired goal or end.

Idiom(s):
win the dayTo be successful.

[Middle English winnen, from Old English winnan, to fight, strive; see wen-1 in Indo-European roots.]
win'less adj., win'na·ble adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

win  (v.)
fusion of O.E. winnan "struggle for, work at, strive, fight," and gewinnan "to gain or succeed by struggling, to win," both from P.Gmc. *wenwanan (cf. O.S. winnan, O.N. vinna, O.Fris. winna, Du. winnen "to gain, win," Dan. vinde "to win," O.H.G. winnan "to strive, struggle, fight," Ger. gewinnen "to gain, win," Goth. gawinnen "to suffer, toil"). Perhaps related to wish, or from PIE *van- "overcome, conquer." Sense of "to be victorious" is recorded from c.1300. The noun in O.E. meant "labor, strife, conflict;" modern sense of "a victory in a game or contest" is first attested 1862, from the verb. Breadwinner (see bread) preserves the sense of "toil" in O.E. winnan. Phrase you can't win them all (1954) first attested in Raymond Chandler.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Computing Dictionary

win jargon
(Said of people, computers, algorithms, programs) (To be) a success at a given task.
E.g. "WYSIWYG is a clear win for small documents".
"winnitude" is the quality that something which wins has. "winning" is often (ab)used as an adjective.
Synonyms: cuspy, elegant. Antonym: lose. Compare lossy, lossless.
[The Jargon File]
(1996-09-08)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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Idioms & Phrases

win

In addition to the idioms beginning with win, also see (win) hands down; nowin situation; slow but sure (steady wins the race); you can't win; you can't win 'em all.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Abbreviations & Acronyms
WIN

  1. Weight-control Information Network

  2. Whip Inflation Now

  3. within (shortwave transmission)

  4. Work Incentive program

The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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