noun
plural winds
a natural movement of air outside [count]
The storm was accompanied by northerly winds.
A gusty/light wind rustled the leaves.
strong/hard winds [noncount]
The wind is blowing hard.
There isn't much wind today. - see also crosswind, downwind, headwind, tailwind, trade wind, upwind, whirlwind
[count] :something that has force or influence
the changing/shifting winds of political opinion
The winds of change have begun to blow. [=change is going to happen; change is in the air]
Her political opinions depend on which way the wind is blowing. [=what opinions are popular at the time]
[noncount] :the ability to breathe normally
I needed to rest to get my wind back after the climb. [=to stop breathing hard and begin to breathe normally]
The fall knocked the wind out of me. [=knocked the air out of my lungs and made me unable to breathe normally for a brief time] - see also second wind
[noncount] Brit :gas in the stomach or intestines
Certain foods give me wind. [=(US) gas]
winds [plural] music :musical instruments (such as flutes and horns) that are played by blowing air into them :wind instruments
break wind
to pass gas out of the anus
catch/get wind of (something)
to hear about (something private or secret)
They got wind of our plans for a party.
The police caught wind of the plot.
get/have the wind up
Brit informal :to become/be afraid or nervous
When they started questioning him, he got the wind up.
in the wind
about to happen
Change is in the wind.
like the wind
very fast
He grabbed the money and ran like the wind.
put the wind up (someone)
Brit informal :to make (someone) afraid or nervous
I tried to put the wind up him by threatening to call the police.
sail close to the wind
xem sail
straw in the wind
xem straw
take the wind out of someone's sails
to cause someone to lose confidence or energy
The team's star player was injured and it really took the wind out of their sails.
three sheets to the wind
xem sheet
throw/fling/cast caution to the wind
xem caution
verb
/ˈwaɪnd/ winds; wound /ˈwaʊnd/; winding
of a river, road, etc. :to follow a series of curves and turns [no obj]
The river winds through the valley.
winding lanes/roads/streets [+ obj]
The river winds its way through the valley.
[+ obj] :to wrap (something, such as a string) around something
He wound more twine around the box.
wind thread on a spool
She wound the scarf around her neck.
The machine winds the tape from one reel to the other.
[+ obj] :to turn a knob, handle, etc., several times on something (such as a clock) so that it can work
wind a clock
Her watch needs to be wound once a year.
To start the old car, you have to wind the crank. - often + up
wind up a toy train
wind down
[phrasal verb]
to end gradually
The party was winding down.
to relax and stop thinking about work, problems, etc. :unwind
I intend to wind down with a good book this weekend.
wind up
[phrasal verb]
to end
The meeting should be winding up soon.
wind (something) up or wind up (something) :to end or complete (something)
It's time to wind up the meeting.
It's getting late so let's wind things up.
to reach or come to a place, situation, or condition that was not planned or expected
They wound up [=ended up] being millionaires.
Although she studied art, she wound up [=ended up] working in publishing.
After a wrong turn, we wound up in an unfamiliar neighborhood. - see also 2wind 3 (above), wound up