winding Definition

wind¹
noun

1. The movement of air, especially horizontally, across the Earth's surface as a result of differences in atmospheric pressure between one location and another.

Thesaurus: air current, breeze, gust, gale, blast, flurry, draught.
2. A current of air produced artificially, by a fan, etc.
3. An influence that seems to pervade events.

Example: a wind of change
4. One's breath or breath supply.

Example: short of wind
5. The scent of game or, for animals, the scent of a hunter or predator, carried by the wind.
6. Gas built up in the intestines; flatulence.
7. Empty, pompous or trivial talk.
8a. The wind instruments of an orchestra;
8b. The players of these.

Form: winds (also)

verb winded, winding

1. To deprive someone of breath temporarily, eg by a punch or fall.
2. To burp (a baby).

Idiom: before the wind

Said of a ship: sailing with the wind coming from behind it.

Idiom: break wind

To discharge intestinal gas through the anus.

Idiom: cast something to the winds (fling something to the winds, throw something to the winds)

To scatter or throw it away recklessly.

To abandon (caution, restraint or prudence, etc).

Idiom: down wind from something

Receiving, or able to receive, air laden with the smell or pollutants, etc from it.

Idiom: get wind of something

To have one's suspicions aroused or hear a rumour, especially of something unfavourable or unwelcome.
Thesaurus: hear of, learn, sense, understand, be clued-up about, be clued-in about (US).

Idiom: get the wind up

colloq
To become nervous, anxious or alarmed.

Idiom: get one's second wind

To sufficiently recover one's breath after an initial exertion to carry on with ease.

Idiom: in the wind

About to happen.

Idiom: like the wind

Swiftly.

Idiom: put the wind up someone

colloq
To make them nervous, anxious or alarmed.

Idiom: sail close to the wind (sail near the wind)

See under sail.

Idiom: see which way the wind blows

To assess current opinions or likely developments, etc.

Idiom: take the wind out of someone's sails

To thwart their confident progress; to deflate or humble them.

Idiom: wind of change (winds of change)

A pervasive influence bringing change.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon.

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wind²
verb wound, winding

tr & intr
1. To wrap or coil, or be wrapped or coiled.

Thesaurus: coil, furl, twine, bend, curve, reel, twist, encircle.
Form: wind round (often)
Form: wind up
tr & intr
2. To progress on a path with many twists and turns.

Thesaurus: coil, bend, curve, twist, turn, spiral, serpentine, zigzag, meander, ramble.
3. To tighten the spring of (a clock, watch or other clockwork device) by turning a knob or key.

Form: wind something up (also)

noun

1. The state of being wound.
2. A turn, coil or twist.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon windan.

Phrasal Verb: wind down

Said of a clock or clockwork device: to slow down and stop working.Said of a person: to begin to relax, especially after a spell of tension, stress or work.

Phrasal Verb: wind something down

To lower it by turning a handle.To reduce the resources and activities of (a business or enterprise).

Phrasal Verb: wind up

To end up.
Example: He wound up in jail

Phrasal Verb: wind someone up

To make them tense, nervous or excited.To taunt or tease them. See also wind-up.

Phrasal Verb: wind something up

To raise it by turning a handle.To conclude or close down a business or enterprise.