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wind down - 4 dictionary results
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wind-down

  [wahynd-doun]
Use wind down in a Sentence
–noun
an act or instance of winding down, as in intensity: a gradual wind-down in hostilities.
Origin:
1965–70; n. use of the v. phrase wind down

wind

2  [wahynd] verb, wound or (Rare) wind⋅ed  [wahyn-did] ; wind⋅ing; noun
–verb (used without object)
1. to change direction; bend; turn; take a frequently bending course; meander: The river winds through the forest.
2. to have a circular or spiral course or direction.
3. to coil or twine about something: The ivy winds around the house.
4. to proceed circuitously or indirectly.
5. to undergo winding or winding up.
6. to be twisted or warped, as a board.
–verb (used with object)
7. to encircle or wreathe, as with something twined, wrapped, or placed about.
8. to roll or coil (thread, string, etc.) into a ball, on a spool, or the like (often fol. by up).
9. to remove or take off by unwinding (usually fol. by off or from): She wound the thread off the bobbin.
10. to twine, fold, wrap, or place about something.
11. to make (a mechanism) operational by tightening the mainspring with a key (often fol. by up): to wind a clock; to wind up a toy.
12. to haul or hoist by means of a winch, windlass, or the like (often fol. by up).
13. to make (one's or its way) in a bending or curving course: The stream winds its way through the woods.
14. to make (one's or its way) by indirect, stealthy, or devious procedure: to wind one's way into another's confidence.
–noun
15. the act of winding.
16. a single turn, twist, or bend of something wound: If you give it another wind, you'll break the mainspring.
17. a twist producing an uneven surface.
—Verb phrases
18. wind down,
a. to lessen in intensity so as to bring or come to a gradual end: The war is winding down.
b. to calm down; relax: He's too excited tonight to wind down and sleep.
19. wind up,
a. to bring to a state of great tension; excite (usually used in the past participle): He was all wound up before the game.
b. to bring or come to an end; conclude: to wind up a sales campaign.
c. to settle or arrange in order to conclude: to wind up one's affairs.
d. to become ultimately: to wind up as a country schoolteacher.
e. Baseball. (of a pitcher) to execute a windup.
—Idiom
20. out of wind, (of boards, plasterwork, etc.) flat and true.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME winden, OE windan; c. D, G winden, ON vinda, Goth -windan; akin to wend, wander
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To wind down
wind 2   (wīnd)   
v.   wound (wound), wind·ing, winds

v.   tr.
  1. To wrap (something) around a center or another object once or repeatedly: wind string around a spool.
  2. 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.
    1. To go along (a curving or twisting course): wind a path through the mountains.
    2. To proceed on (one's way) with a curving or twisting course.
    3. To coil the spring of (a mechanism) by turning a stem or cord, for example: wind a watch.
    4. To coil (thread, for example), as onto a spool or into a ball.
    5. To remove or unwind (thread, for example), as from a spool: wound the line off the reel.
  4. To introduce in a disguised or devious manner; insinuate: He wound a plea for money into his letter.
  5. To turn (a crank, for example) in a series of circular motions.
    1. To coil the spring of (a mechanism) by turning a stem or cord, for example: wind a watch.
    2. To coil (thread, for example), as onto a spool or into a ball.
    3. To remove or unwind (thread, for example), as from a spool: wound the line off the reel.
  7. To lift or haul by means of a windlass or winch: Wind the pail to the top of the well.
v.   intr.
  1. To move in or have a curving or twisting course: a river winding through a valley.
    1. To move in or have a spiral or circular course: a column of smoke winding into the sky.
    2. To be coiled or spiraled: The vine wound about the trellis.
  3. To be twisted or whorled into curved forms.
  4. To proceed misleadingly or insidiously in discourse or conduct.
  5. To become wound: a clock that winds with difficulty.
n.  
  1. The act of winding.
  2. A single turn, twist, or curve.
Phrasal Verb(s):
wind down Informal
  1. To diminish gradually in energy, intensity, or scope: The party wound down as guests began to leave.
  2. To relax; unwind.
wind up
  1. To come or bring to a finish; end: when the meeting wound up; wind up a project.
  2. To put in order; settle: wound up her affairs before leaving the country.
  3. 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.
  4. Baseball To swing back the arm and raise the foot in preparation for pitching the ball.

[Middle English winden, from Old English windan.]
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

wind down

Diminish gradually, draw to a close, as in By midnight the party had wound down. [Mid-1900s] Also see wind up.

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