wind

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈwind 

archaic or poetic

ˈwīnd 

often attributive

1

a

: a natural movement of air of any velocity

especially : the earth's air or the gas surrounding a planet in natural motion horizontally

b

: an artificially produced movement of air

c

: solar wind, stellar wind

2

a

: a force or agency that carries along or influences : tendency, trend

withstood the winds of popular opinion

—Felix Frankfurter

b

: a destructive force or influence

3

a

: breath sense 2a

b

: breath sense 4a

c

: the pit of the stomach : solar plexus

4

: gas generated in the stomach or the intestines

pass wind

5

plural winds

a

: musical wind instruments especially as distinguished from strings and percussion : the wind instruments of an orchestra

b

: players of wind instruments

6

a

: slight information especially about something secret : intimation

got wind of the plan

b

: air carrying a scent (as of a hunter or game)

7

: something that is insubstantial: such as

a

: mere talk : idle words

b

: nothing, nothingness

c

: vain self-satisfaction

8

a

: a direction from which the wind may blow : a point of the compass

especially : one of the cardinal points

b

: the direction from which the wind is blowing

9

a

: compressed air or gas

b

archaic : air

windless

ˈwind-ləs 

adjective

windlessly adverb

wind

2 of 5

verb (1)

ˈwind 

winded; winding; winds

transitive verb

1

: to make short of breath

2

: to detect or follow by scent

3

: to expose to the air or wind : dry by exposing to air

4

: to regulate the wind supply of (an organ pipe)

5

: to rest (an animal, such as a horse) in order to allow the breath to be recovered

intransitive verb

1

: to scent game

2

dialect : to pause for breath

wind

3 of 5

verb (2)

ˈwīnd 

wound ˈwau̇nd  also winded; winding

transitive verb

1

a

: to turn completely or repeatedly about an object : coil, twine

b

: to encircle or cover with something pliable : bind with loops or layers

c

: to raise to a high level (as of excitement or tension)

—usually used with up

d(1)

: to tighten the spring of

wind a clock

(2)

: crank

(3)

obsolete : to make tighter : tighten, tune

e(1)

: to hoist or haul by means of a rope or chain and a windlass

(2)

: to move (a ship) by hauling on a capstan

2

a

: to traverse on a curving course

the river winds the valley

b

: to cause to move in a curving line or path

c

: to effect by or as if by curving

d(1)

: to cause (something, such as a ship) to change direction : turn

(2)

: to turn (a ship) end for end

e

archaic : to turn the course of

especially : to lead (a person) as one wishes

3

a

: entangle, involve

b

: to introduce sinuously or stealthily : insinuate

c

obsolete : weave

intransitive verb

1

a

: to have a curving course or shape : extend in curves

b

: to proceed as if by winding

2

: to move so as to encircle something

3

: to turn when lying at anchor

4

: bend, warp

wind

4 of 5

noun (2)

ˈwīnd 

1

: coil, turn

2

: a particular method of winding

3

: an act of winding : the state of being wound

4

: a mechanism (such as a winch) for winding

wind

5 of 5

verb (3)

ˈwīnd  ˈwind 

winded ˈwīn-dəd 

ˈwin-

or wound ˈwau̇nd  ; winding

transitive verb

1

: to cause (something, such as a horn) to sound by blowing : blow

2

: to sound (a call or note) on a horn

wound a rousing call

—R. L. Stevenson

intransitive verb

: to produce a sound on a horn

Phrases

before the wind

: in the same direction as the main force of the wind

close to the wind

: as nearly as possible against the main force of the wind

have the wind of

1

: to be to windward of

2

: to be on the scent of

3

: to have a superior position to

in the wind

: about to happen : astir, afoot

change is in the wind

near the wind

1

: close to the wind

2

: close to a point of danger : near the permissible limit

off the wind

: away from the direction from which the wind is blowing

on the wind

: toward the direction from which the wind is blowing

to the wind or to the winds

: aside, away

threw caution to the wind

under the wind

1

: to leeward

2

: in a place protected from the wind : under the lee

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• current
• draft

Noun (2)

• angle
• arc
• arch
• bend
• bow
• crook
• curvature
• curve
• inflection
• turn

Verb (3)

• coil
• corkscrew
• curl
• entwine
• spiral
• twine
• twist

Examples of wind in a Sentence

Noun (1)

there's a wind coming from underneath the front door

the winds of public opinion are changing on this issue

the speech contained nothing of substance and was just a lot of wind

Noun (2)

there's one last easterly wind to the river before it empties into the sea

Verb (3)

flowering vines wind around the porch's graceful columns

self-interest winds itself into everything that he does—even his alleged favors for other people

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Damaging winds of up to 70 mph and hail up to 2 inches were forecast for the Piedmont, Sandhills and Coastal Plains areas as intense storms moved across the state's central region. —Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 9 May 2024

Storms are expected between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. Primary threats include: Strong and damaging winds. —Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 9 May 2024

Still, the system will be strong enough to bring damaging winds to the Carolinas, Outlaw said. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2024

The winds will be light all weekend, eliminating the chance of swirling sand. —Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2024

These storms will be capable of producing very large hail — up to tennis balls — as well as damaging wind gusts and possibly a tornado or two, the weather service said. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2024

Severe storms battered the Midwest on Tuesday, unleashing a curtain of heavy rain, gusty winds and tornadoes throughout the region a day after a deadly twister ripped through a small Oklahoma town and killed at least one person. —CBS News, 8 May 2024

Hail and high winds are likely in the areas under the watch. —Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2024

But a bomber jacket is nice for blocking out the wind and preventing goosebumps when the day suddenly turns overcast, plus they’re backed by other stars like Sarah Jessica Parker and Gigi Hadid. —Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 7 May 2024

Verb

Amtrak was saddled with decrepit, winding tracks that made high-speed travel impossible, locomotives that predate many of their passengers, and, in Maryland, a tunnel built during Reconstruction. —Paolo Confino, Fortune, 6 May 2024

Community amenities at Dayton Creek include a fitness center, putting green, new pool and children’s waterpark, playground, picnic shelter with outdoor grills, winding trails, and pickleball and basketball courts. —Weichert Realtors® Welch & Company, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2024

The trek kicked off in London in October, before winding its way through Canada, the U.S., and Mexico City. —Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 5 May 2024

The probe, though nowhere near final, has uncovered a winding trail of drugs, money and murder linked to Florida and Puerto Rico — and a cast of characters previously known to law enforcement in different capacities. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 3 May 2024

Suddenly, the garden — which features a winding pathway scented by jasmine bushes and herbs that leads down to a grove of loquat, fig and Blenheim apricot trees — felt like an ideal place for a celebration. —Jean Trinh, New York Times, 2 May 2024

And an elegant mansion set behind gates on an elevated perch above winding Hampton Road, listed for $14.5 million with Ann Newton Cane and Michael Dreyfus of Sotheby’s International Realty, epitomizes the gracious lifestyle Piedmont offers its almost 12,000 residents today. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 2 May 2024

Here, travelers can expect a quiet atmosphere, winding trails to roam, and plenty of serenity. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2024

The ridges could also be winding structures related to glaciers called eskers. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 25 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb (3)

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German wint wind, Latin ventus, Greek aēnai to blow, Sanskrit vāti it blows

Verb (2)

Middle English, from Old English windan to twist, move with speed or force, brandish; akin to Old High German wintan to wind, Umbrian ohavendu let him turn aside

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb (3)

1586, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing wind

• before the wind
• break wind
• capful of wind
• close to the wind
• get/have the wind up
• get wind of
• have the wind of
• in the wind
• knock the wind out of (someone)
• like the wind
• near the wind
• off the wind
• on the wind
• prevailing wind
• put the wind up (someone)
• ran like the wind
• relative wind
• sail close to the wind
• second wind
• solar wind
• stellar wind
• straight-line wind
• straw in the wind
• take the wind out of someone's sails
• three sheets in the wind
• three sheets to the wind
• throw/fling/cast caution to the wind
• to the wind
• trade wind
• twist in the wind
• under the wind
• which way the wind is blowing
• wind-bell
• wind-borne
• wind-broken
• wind chime
• wind down
• wind farm
• wind gap
• wind harp
• wind instrument
• wind-pollinated
• wind rose
• wind shake
• wind shear
• wind sock
• wind sprint
• wind tee
• wind tunnel
• wind turbine
• wind up

Kids Definition

wind

1 of 6 noun

ˈwind 

1

: a movement of air

2

: something that has force or influence

the changing winds of political opinion

3

: breath sense 2a

the fall knocked the wind out of me

4

: gas produced in the stomach or the intestines

5

: something unimportant

especially : idle words

6

a

: air carrying a scent (as of a hunter or game)

b

: slight information especially about something secret

got wind of our plans

7

plural : the wind instruments of a band or orchestra

8

: the direction from which the wind is blowing

wind

2 of 6 verb

1

: to get a scent of

the dogs winded game

2

: to cause to be out of breath

the long climb winded us

3

: to allow to rest so as to recover breath

wind a horse

wind

3 of 6 verb

ˈwīnd  ˈwind 

winded ˈwīn-dəd 

ˈwin-

or wound ˈwau̇nd  ; winding

: to sound by blowing

wind a horn

wind

4 of 6 verb

ˈwīnd 

wound ˈwau̇nd  also winded; winding

1

: to move in a series of twists and turns

a river winding through the valley

2

: entangle sense 2

3

a

: to encircle or cover with something flexible

b

: to coil completely or repeatedly about an object : twine

wind thread on a spool

4

: to lift, pull, move, or operate by means of a rope, cable, or chain and a winch

wind up a pail from a well

5

: to tighten the spring of

wind a clock

wind up a toy train

winder noun

wind

5 of 6 noun

ˈwīnd 

: something curved or twisted : bend

wind

6 of 6 adjective

ˈwind

: of or relating to wind instruments

the wind section of an orchestra

Etymology

Noun

Old English wind "the natural movement of air"

Verb

Old English windan "to twist, move with force"

Geographical Definition

Wind

geographical name

ˈwind 

river in west central Wyoming

Note: The Wind River is the upper course of the Bighorn River.