wing definition | Dictionary.com

wing

[wing]

–noun

1.	either of the two forelimbs of most birds and of bats, corresponding to the human arms, that are specialized for flight.

2.	either of two corresponding parts in flightless birds, which may be rudimentary, as in certain ratite birds, or adapted for swimming, as in penguins.

3.	one of the paired, thin, lateral extensions of the body wall of an insect, located on the mesothorax and the metathorax, by means of which it flies.

4.	a similar structure with which gods, angels, demons, etc., are conceived to be provided for the purpose of flying.

5.	Slang. an arm of a human being, esp. a baseball player's pitching or throwing arm.

6.	a means or instrument of flight, travel, or progress.

7.	the act or manner of flying.

8.	something resembling or likened to a bird's wing, as a vane or sail of a windmill.

Aeronautics.

a.	one of a pair of airfoils attached transversely to the fuselage of an aircraft and providing lift.

b.	both airfoils, taken collectively.

10.	Architecture. a part of a building projecting on one side of, or subordinate to, a central or main part.

11.	Furniture. either of two forward extensions of the sides of the back of an easy chair.

12.	either of the two side portions of an army or fleet, usually called right wing and left wing, and distinguished from the center; flank units.

13.	an administrative and tactical unit of the U.S. Air Force consisting of two or more groups, headquarters, and certain supporting and service units.

14.	(in flight formation) noting a position to the side and just to the rear of another airplane.

15.	Fortification. either of the longer sides of a crownwork, uniting it to the main work.

16.	Sports. (in some team games) any one of the positions, or a player in such a position, on the far side of the center position, known as the left and right wings with reference to the direction of the opposite goal.

17.

Theater.

a.	the platform or space on the right or left of the stage proper.

b.	wing flat.

18.	Anatomy. an ala: the wings of the sphenoid.

19.

Botany.

a.	any leaflike expansion, as of a samara.

b.	one of the two side petals of a papilionaceous flower.

20.	either of the parts of a double door, screen, etc.

21.	the feather of an arrow.

22.	a faction within a political party, as at one extreme or the other: conflict between the right wing and the left wing.

23.	Nautical. one of the far side areas of the hold of a merchant vessel.

24.	British. a fender of an automobile, truck, bicycle, or other vehicle.

–verb (used with object)

25.	to equip with wings.

26.	to enable to fly, move rapidly, etc.; lend speed or celerity to.

27.	to supply with a winglike part, a side structure, etc.

28.	to transport on or as on wings.

29.	to perform or accomplish by wings.

30.	to traverse in flight.

31.	to wound or disable in the wing: to wing a bird.

32.	to wound (a person) in an arm or other nonvital part.

33.	to bring down (as a flying bird) by a shot.

34.	Informal. to throw; lob: He winged a ball through the neighbor's window.

35.	to brush or clean with a wing.

36.	Theater. to perform (a part, role, etc.) relying on prompters in the wings.

–verb (used without object)

37.	to travel on or as if on wings; fly; soar: They are winging to the coast.

—Idioms

38.

on the wing,

a.	in flight, or flying: a bird on the wing.

b.	in motion; traveling; active: Scouts are on the wing in search of a new talent.

39.

take wing,

a.	to begin to fly; take to the air.

b.	to leave in haste; depart: Our resolutions to economize swiftly took wing.

40.	under one's wing, under one's protection, care, or patronage: She took the orphan under her wing.

41.	wing it, Informal. to accomplish or execute something without sufficient preparation or experience; improvise: He had no time to study, so he had to wing it.

Origin:
1125–75; ME wenge (pl. n.) < ODan wingæ; cf. Norw, Sw vinge, ON vǣngr

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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wing (wĭng)

One of a pair of movable organs for flying, as the feather-covered modified forelimb of a bird or the skin-covered modified digits of the forelimb of a bat.
Any of usually four membranous organs for flying that extend from the thorax of an insect.
A winglike organ or structure used for flying, as the folds of skin of a flying squirrel or the enlarged pectoral fin of a flying fish.
Botany
1. A thin or membranous extension, such as of the fruit of the elm, maple, or ash or of the seed of the pine.
2. One of the lateral petals of the flower of a pea or of most plants in the pea family.
3. The act or manner of flying.
4. A means of flight or rapid movement: Fear lent wings to his feet.
5. Something, such as a weathervane, that is moved by or moves against the air.
6. The sail of a ship.
7. A flat of theatrical scenery projecting onto the stage from the side.
8. wings The unseen backstage area on either side of the stage of a proscenium theater.
9. Either of two groups with opposing views within a larger group; a faction.
10. A section of a party, legislature, or community holding distinct, especially dissenting, political views: the conservative wing.
11. Either the left or right flank of an army or a naval fleet.
12. An air force unit larger than a group but smaller than a division.
13. Either of the forward positions played near the sideline, especially in hockey.
14. A player who plays such a position.
Informal An arm of a human.
An airfoil whose principal function is providing lift, especially either of two such airfoils symmetrically positioned on each side of the fuselage of an aircraft.
Something that resembles a wing in appearance, function, or position relative to a main body.
1. The act or manner of flying.
2. A means of flight or rapid movement: Fear lent wings to his feet.
3. Something, such as a weathervane, that is moved by or moves against the air.
4. The sail of a ship.
5. A flat of theatrical scenery projecting onto the stage from the side.
6. wings The unseen backstage area on either side of the stage of a proscenium theater.
7. Either of two groups with opposing views within a larger group; a faction.
8. A section of a party, legislature, or community holding distinct, especially dissenting, political views: the conservative wing.
9. Either the left or right flank of an army or a naval fleet.
10. An air force unit larger than a group but smaller than a division.
11. Either of the forward positions played near the sideline, especially in hockey.
12. A player who plays such a position.
1. Something, such as a weathervane, that is moved by or moves against the air.
2. The sail of a ship.
3. A flat of theatrical scenery projecting onto the stage from the side.
4. wings The unseen backstage area on either side of the stage of a proscenium theater.
5. Either of two groups with opposing views within a larger group; a faction.
6. A section of a party, legislature, or community holding distinct, especially dissenting, political views: the conservative wing.
7. Either the left or right flank of an army or a naval fleet.
8. An air force unit larger than a group but smaller than a division.
9. Either of the forward positions played near the sideline, especially in hockey.
10. A player who plays such a position.
Chiefly British The fender of a motor vehicle.
A folding section, as of a double door or of a movable partition.
Either of the two side projections on the back of a wing chair.
1. A flat of theatrical scenery projecting onto the stage from the side.
2. wings The unseen backstage area on either side of the stage of a proscenium theater.
3. Either of two groups with opposing views within a larger group; a faction.
4. A section of a party, legislature, or community holding distinct, especially dissenting, political views: the conservative wing.
5. Either the left or right flank of an army or a naval fleet.
6. An air force unit larger than a group but smaller than a division.
7. Either of the forward positions played near the sideline, especially in hockey.
8. A player who plays such a position.
A structure attached to and connected internally with the side of a main building.
A section of a large building devoted to a specific purpose: the children's wing of the hospital.
A group affiliated with or subordinate to an older or larger organization.
1. Either of two groups with opposing views within a larger group; a faction.
2. A section of a party, legislature, or community holding distinct, especially dissenting, political views: the conservative wing.
3. Either the left or right flank of an army or a naval fleet.
4. An air force unit larger than a group but smaller than a division.
5. Either of the forward positions played near the sideline, especially in hockey.
6. A player who plays such a position.
1. Either the left or right flank of an army or a naval fleet.
2. An air force unit larger than a group but smaller than a division.
3. Either of the forward positions played near the sideline, especially in hockey.
4. A player who plays such a position.
Sports
1. Either of the forward positions played near the sideline, especially in hockey.
2. A player who plays such a position.
wings An outspread pair of stylized bird's wings worn as insignia by qualified pilots or air crew members.

v.   winged, wing·ing, wings

v.   intr.
To move on or as if on wings; fly.
v.   tr.

1. To furnish with wings.
2. To cause or enable to fly or speed swiftly along.
3. To pass over or through with or as if with wings.
4. To carry or transport by or as if by flying.
5. To effect or accomplish by flying.
6. To wound the wing of (a game bird, for example).
7. To wound superficially, as in an appendage.
To feather (an arrow).
1. To pass over or through with or as if with wings.
2. To carry or transport by or as if by flying.
3. To effect or accomplish by flying.
4. To wound the wing of (a game bird, for example).
5. To wound superficially, as in an appendage.
To throw or dispatch (a ball, for example).
1. To wound the wing of (a game bird, for example).
2. To wound superficially, as in an appendage.
To furnish with side or subordinate extensions, as a building or an altarpiece.

[Middle English wenge, winge, of Scandinavian origin; see wē- in Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Wing

Wing\, n. (A["e]ronautics) Any surface used primarily for supporting a flying machine in flight, whether by edge-on motion, or flapping, or rotation; specif., either of a pair of supporting planes of a flying machine.

Wing

Wing\, n. [OE. winge, wenge; probably of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. & Sw. vinge, Icel. v[ae]ngr.]

1. One of the two anterior limbs of a bird, pterodactyl, or bat. They correspond to the arms of man, and are usually modified for flight, but in the case of a few species of birds, as the ostrich, auk, etc., the wings are used only as an assistance in running or swimming.

As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings. --Deut. xxxii. 11.

Note: In the wing of a bird the long quill feathers are in series. The primaries are those attached to the ulnar side of the hand; the secondaries, or wing coverts, those of the forearm: the scapulars, those that lie over the humerus; and the bastard feathers, those of the short outer digit. See Illust. of Bird, and Plumage.

2. Any similar member or instrument used for the purpose of flying. Specifically: (Zo["o]l.) (a) One of the two pairs of upper thoracic appendages of most hexapod insects. They are broad, fanlike organs formed of a double membrane and strengthened by chitinous veins or nervures. (b) One of the large pectoral fins of the flying fishes.

3. Passage by flying; flight; as, to take wing.

Light thickens; and the crow Makes wing to the rooky wood. --Shak.

4. Motive or instrument of flight; means of flight or of rapid motion.

Fiery expedition be my wing. --Shak.

5. Anything which agitates the air as a wing does, or which is put in winglike motion by the action of the air, as a fan or vane for winnowing grain, the vane or sail of a windmill, etc.

6. An ornament worn on the shoulder; a small epaulet or shoulder knot.

7. Any appendage resembling the wing of a bird or insect in shape or appearance. Specifically: (a) (Zo["o]l.) One of the broad, thin, anterior lobes of the foot of a pteropod, used as an organ in swimming. (b) (Bot.) Any membranaceous expansion, as that along the sides of certain stems, or of a fruit of the kind called samara. (c) (Bot.) Either of the two side petals of a papilionaceous flower.

8. One of two corresponding appendages attached; a sidepiece. Hence: (a) (Arch.) A side building, less than the main edifice; as, one of the wings of a palace. (b) (Fort.) The longer side of crownworks, etc., connecting them with the main work. (c) (Hort.) A side shoot of a tree or plant; a branch growing up by the side of another. [Obs.] (d) (Mil.) The right or left division of an army, regiment, etc. (e) (Naut.) That part of the hold or orlop of a vessel which is nearest the sides. In a fleet, one of the extremities when the ships are drawn up in line, or when forming the two sides of a triangle. --Totten. (f) One of the sides of the stags in a theater.

On the wing. (a) Supported by, or flying with, the wings another.

On the wings of the wind, with the utmost velocity.

Under the wing, or wings, of, under the care or protection of.

Wing and wing (Naut.), with sails hauled out on either side; -- said of a schooner, or her sails, when going before the wind with the foresail on one side and the mainsail on the other; also said of a square-rigged vessel which has her studding sails set. Cf. Goosewinged.

Wing case (Zo["o]l.), one of the anterior wings of beetles, and of some other insects, when thickened and used to protect the hind wings; an elytron; -- called also wing cover.

Wing covert (Zo["o]l.), one of the small feathers covering the bases of the wing quills. See Covert, n., 2.

Wing gudgeon (Mach.), an iron gudgeon for the end of a wooden axle, having thin, broad projections to prevent it from turning in the wood. See Illust. of Gudgeon.

Wing shell (Zo["o]l.), wing case of an insect.

Wing stroke, the stroke or sweep of a wing.

Wing transom (Naut.), the uppermost transom of the stern; -- called also main transom. --J. Knowles.

Wing

Wing\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Winged; p. pr. & vb. n. Winging.]

1. To furnish with wings; to enable to fly, or to move with celerity.

Who heaves old ocean, and whowings the storms. --Pope.

Living, to wing with mirth the weary hours. --Longfellow.

2. To supply with wings or sidepieces.

The main battle, whose puissance on either side Shall be well winged with our chiefest horse. --Shak.

3. To transport by flight; to cause to fly.

I, an old turtle, Will wing me to some withered bough. --Shak.

4. To move through in flight; to fly through.

There's not an arrow wings the sky But fancy turns its point to him. --Moore.

5. To cut off the wings of; to wound in the wing; to disable a wing of; as, to wing a bird.

To wing a flight, to exert the power of flying; to fly.

Language Translation for : wing

Spanish: ala,

German: der Flügel,

Japanese: 翼

More Translations »

wing (n.)

c.1175, wenge, from O.N. vængr "wing of a bird, aisle, etc." (cf. Dan., Swed. vinge "wing"), of unknown origin, perhaps from a P.Gmc. *we-ingjaz and ult. from PIE base *we- "blow" (cf. O.E. wawan "to blow;" see wind (n.)). Replaced O.E. feðra (pl.) "wings" (see feather). The meaning "either of two divisions of a political party, army, etc." is first recorded c.1400; theatrical sense is from 1790. Verbal phrase wing it (1885) is from theatrical slang sense of an actor learning his lines in the wings before going onstage, or else not learning them at all and being fed by a prompter in the wings. The verb to wing "shoot a bird in the wing" is from 1802. The slang sense of to earn (one's) wings is 1940s, from the wing-shaped badges awarded to air cadets on graduation. To be under (someone's) wing "protected by (someone)" is recorded from c.1230. Phrase on a wing and a prayer is title of a 1943 song about landing a damaged aircraft.

Main Entry: wing
Pronunciation: 'wi[ng]
Function: noun
1 : one of the movable feathered or membranous paired appendages by means of which a bird,bat, or insect is able to fly
2 : a winglike anatomical part or process : ALA; especially : any of the four winglike processes of the sphenoid bone —see GREATER WING, LESSER WING —winged /'wi[ng]d, 'wi[ng]-&d/ adjective

wing (wĭng)
n.

Any of various paired movable organs of flight, such as the modified forelimb of a bird or bat or one of the membranous organs extending from the thorax of an insect.
Something that resembles a wing in appearance, function, or position relative to a main body.

wing (wĭng) Pronunciation Key

One of a pair of specialized parts used for flying, as in birds, bats, or insects.
A thin, papery projection on certain fruits that are dispersed by the wind, such as the fruits of ash, elm, and maple trees. See also samara.
A part extending from the side of an aircraft, such as an airplane, having a curved upper surface that causes the pressure of air rushing over it to decrease, thereby providing lift.

wing

In addition to the idiom beginning with wing, also see clip someone's wings; in the wings; left wing; on the wing; take flight (wing); under someone's wing.

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