1
a
: an injury to the body (as from violence, accident, or surgery) that typically involves laceration or breaking of a membrane (such as the skin) and usually damage to underlying tissues
b
: a cut or breach in a plant usually due to an external agent
2
: a mental or emotional hurt or blow
3
: something resembling a wound in appearance or effect
especially
: a rift in or blow to a political body or social group
wounded; wounding; wounds
: to cause a wound to or in
: to inflict a wound
Examples of wound in a Sentence
Noun
She suffered a knife wound to her thigh.
Her mother's scorn left a wound that never healed.
Verb
Four people were seriously wounded in the explosion.
The soldier's leg was wounded by a grenade.
Losing the match wounded his pride.
Recent Examples on the Web
David Matthews, New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2025
According to a statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, the examination confirmed no signs of trauma — such as a stab wound, gunshot or other visible injury — on either body.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 27 Feb. 2025
Michael Holtz, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
Douglas was sent to prison in 1985 after he and three other men were convicted for bursting into the East New York home of a drug dealer and killing three and wounding seven in a case that grabbed headlines for its horrific details.
—Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wound
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Noun
Deputies discovered Jordan Dove, 34, inside the home with a gunshot wound.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2025
According to a statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, the examination confirmed no signs of trauma — such as a stab wound, gunshot or other visible injury — on either body.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
He had been wounded last summer, not far from the Russian border in northeastern Ukraine, when a blast from a grenade fractured his right shoulder blade, a bullet hit him just below his right collarbone, another tore through his left shoulder, and a third broke three ribs.
—Michael Holtz, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
Douglas was sent to prison in 1985 after he and three other men were convicted for bursting into the East New York home of a drug dealer and killing three and wounding seven in a case that grabbed headlines for its horrific details.
—Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wound
Cite this Entry
“Wound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wound. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wound
1 of 3 noun1
: an injury involving cutting or breaking of bodily tissue (as by violence, accident, or surgery)
2
: an injury to a person's feelings
wound
2 of 3 verb1
: to hurt by cutting or breaking bodily tissue
the broken glass wounded several people
2
: to hurt the feelings or pride of
his remark wounded her
Medical Definition
wound
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a physical injury to the body consisting of a laceration or breaking of the skin or mucous membrane often with damage to underlying tissue
has a deep festering knife wound across the palm
a gunshot wound
b
: an opening made in the skin or a membrane of the body incidental to a surgical operation or procedure
infection of a surgical wound
2
: a mental or emotional hurt or blow
emotional wounds of childhood
wound
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to cause a wound to or in
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