wing

1 of 2

noun

ˈwiŋ 

plural wings

often attributive

1

a

: one of the movable feathered or membranous paired appendages by means of which a bird, bat, or insect is able to fly

also : such an appendage (as of an ostrich) even though rudimentary or modified so no longer having the power of flight

b

: any of various anatomical structures (as of a flying fish or flying lemur) providing means of limited flight

2

: an appendage or part resembling a wing in appearance, position, or function: such as

a

: a device worn under the arms to aid a person in swimming or staying afloat

water wings

b

: ala

c

: a turned-back or extended edge on an article of clothing

d

: a sidepiece at the top of an armchair

e(1)

: a foliaceous, membranous, or woody expansion of a plant especially along a stem or on a samara or capsule

(2)

: either of the two lateral petals of a papilionaceous flower compare keel entry 2 sense 2b

f

: a vane of a windmill or arrow

g

: sail

h

: an airfoil that develops a major part of the lift which supports a heavier-than-air aircraft

i

chiefly British : fender sense d

3

: a means of flight or rapid progress

4

: the act or manner of flying : flight

take wing

5

: a side or outlying region or district

6

: a part or feature of a building usually projecting from and subordinate to the main or central part

the servants' wing

7

a

: one of the pieces of scenery at the side of a stage

b

wings plural : the area at the side of the stage out of sight

8

a

: a left or right section of an army or fleet : flank

b

: one of the offensive positions or players on either side of a center position in certain team sports

also : flanker

9

a

: either of two opposing groups within an organization or society : faction

b

: a section of an organized body (such as a legislative chamber) representing a group or faction holding distinct opinions or policies compare left wing, right wing

10

a

: a unit of the U.S. Air Force higher than a group and lower than a division

b

: two or more squadrons of naval airplanes

11

: a dance step marked by a quick outward and inward rolling glide of one foot

12

wings plural : insignia consisting of an outspread pair of stylized bird's wings which are awarded on completion of prescribed training to a qualified pilot, aircrew member, or military balloon pilot

wingy

ˈwiŋ-ē 

adjective

Illustration of wing

• 1 coverts
• 2 primaries
• 3 secondaries

wing

2 of 2

verb

winged; winging; wings

transitive verb

1

a

: to fit with wings

b

: to enable to fly or move swiftly

2

a

: to traverse with or as if with wings

b

: to effect or achieve by flying

3

: to let fly : dispatch

would start to wing punches

—A. J. Liebling

4

a

: to wound in the wing : disable the wing of

winged the duck

b

: to wound (as with a bullet) without killing

winged by a sniper

5

: to do or perform without preparation or guidelines : improvise

winging it

intransitive verb

: to go with or as if with wings : fly

—often used with it

winged it to Europe

Phrases

in the wings

1

: out of sight in the stage wings

2

: close at hand in the background : readily available

had a plan waiting in the wings

on the wing

1

: in flight : flying

2

: in motion

under one's wing

: under one's protection : in one's care

took her under his wing

Synonyms

Noun

• bloc
• block
• body
• coalition
• faction
• party
• sect
• set
• side

Verb

• aviate
• fly
• glide
• plane
• soar

Examples of wing in a Sentence

Noun

In the library's north wing, you'll find the current periodicals.

She works in the pediatric wing of the hospital.

The guest room is in the east wing.

Verb

The team winged to Moscow for the finals.

She winged the ball over to first base.

The soldier was winged by a stray bullet.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Trump and allies such as Davis have complained that the judges ruling against him are left wing partisans. —Zac Anderson, USA Today, 26 May 2025

Barnett had photographs from the company’s archive, documenting the internal structure of the wings of a 1930s China Clipper flying boat, blown up and displayed as artwork. —Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 25 May 2025

Verb

Over the next few weeks, most of the U.S. is heading into peak migration, when hundreds of millions of birds can wing their way across the sky in a single night on a mission to claim a prime bit of real estate, attract a suitable mate and get to work raising the next generation. —Kate Wong, Scientific American, 28 Apr. 2025

Though most marbled godwits breed in the Great Plains, two small populations wing their way to James Bay, Canada, and to Alaska. —Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English winge, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish & Swedish vinge wing; akin to Sanskrit vāti it blows — more at wind entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

1591, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing wing

• buck-and-wing
• buffalo wing
• delta wing
• four-wing saltbush
• gull wing
• hind wing
• left wing
• on a wing and a prayer
• right wing
• rotary-wing aircraft
• single wing
• take (someone) under one's wing
• take wing
• wing and wing
• wing bar
• wing case
• wing chair
• wing collar
• wing commander
• wing covert
• wing-footed
• wing it
• wing mirror
• wing nut
• wing one's way
• wing shooting
• wing tip

Rhymes for wing

• bing
• bring
• ching
• cling
• ding
• fling
• ging
• hing
• jing
• kling
• ling
• ming

Kids Definition

wing

1 of 2 noun

ˈwiŋ 

1

: one of the movable feathered or membranous paired appendages by means of which a bird, bat, or insect flies

2

: an extension or part resembling a wing in shape, appearance, or position

especially : a flat or broadly expanded plant or animal part

a stem with woody wings

3

: an extension from the side of an armchair

4

: a part that extends from the side of an airplane

5

: the act or manner of flying : flight

6

: a part sticking out from a main part

the rear wing of the house

7

plural : the area at the side of the stage out of sight of the audience

8

: one of the positions or players on each side of a center position or line

9

: a particular group within an organization : faction

10

: a unit of a military force and especially an air force

winged

ˈwiŋd

ˈwiŋ-əd

adjective

winglike

-ˌlīk

adjective

wing

2 of 2 verb

1

: to pass through in flight

2

: to go with or as if with wings : fly

3

: to wound in the wing

wing a duck

also : to wound without killing

wing a deer

4

: to do or perform without preparation or guidelines

wing it

Medical Definition

wing

noun

ˈwiŋ 

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

ˈwiŋd  ˈwiŋ-əd 

adjective