guy wire
1
6.3
- noun
- /ˈɡaɪ ˌwaɪər/
- Specialized
:
cable de sujeción
- The construction crew installed new guy wires to secure the antenna tower against strong winds.
- pole with guy wires
Examples
-
Air whistled around guy wires as the plane glided along.
Fiction book (1998) -
It was as if the music of a shared history were vibrating like invisible guy wires supporting this platform in space, time, and feeling: two men in a fluorescent-lit, rented kitchen.
Fiction book (1995) -
Guy wires anchored to wood stakes webbed the backyard, which made careless strolling hazardous.
Fiction book (1995) -
The men tighten guy wires on the radio tower, windmills, and caches; bring firewood indoors; and close off unused rooms in the general store and spa.
Fiction book (1993) -
To stabilize the tent during the storm, they anchored the guy wires to the ground with heavy stakes.
-
The tall flagpole was supported by guy wires that kept it upright in the blustery weather.
Synonyms
282
2.4
A thick strong wire that carries electricity or signals
247
8.2
A strong rope or wire that holds something steady like a tent
1
5.1
A strong rope that holds a tent or pole steady by being tied to the ground
A strong wire that holds a pole, tent, or tower upright
A rope that holds a tent or pole steady
How Strong
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a simple noun–noun compound whose sense is directly built from 'guy' (a cable/rope used to steady structures) and 'wire' (a metal filament or something used to bind), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it is a wire used to stabilize a structure. The composition follows regular English compounding patterns and is therefore immediately interpretable.
Etymology
Guy wire comes from an old use of guy meaning 'to guide' or 'steady'. Imagine a strong wire pulling a tall pole so it does not fall, and you can see how the name shows its job: to guide and support the structure, so guy wire means a cable used to hold something steady.