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wind

wind

196 6.8
A strong influence that causes change in people or events
  • noun
  • /wɪnd/
translation icon : tendencia
  • I'd say the wind's definitely blowing in our direction.
  • winds of change
  • political winds
  • shift in the wind

The divine Miss M, The wind beneath our wings.

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Examples

  • " Indeed, the Bush team is most focused on the political winds blowing from its right.

    Academic text (2002)
  • The number of people killed would depend on which way the wind is blowing.

  • Like, I like investing in these companies because the wind is at their back.

  • That is, if the wind's with me.

  • Or am I just supposed to go whichever way the wind blows?

  • The BBC got their first wind of the Chinese quake from Twitter.

  • If the press or authorities get wind of this, the kidnappers might panic.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • By 1870, the political winds had shifted enough that the proposed reforms never really took hold.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Now, finally, doubt whispered its chill in the wind, and she began shivering and couldn't stop.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • After everyone got wind of the new project, excitement spread throughout the department.

Synonyms

high wind
vswind
29 1.6

A very strong wind that can blow down trees and cause damage

is an abstract influence driving events rather than rapid moving air
strong wind
vswind
23 1.0

A wind that blows very hard and can move things

is a figurative tendency or influence rather than a literal physical force
whirlwind
vswind
9 4.0

A strong spinning column of air that lifts dust and leaves

is a literal meteorological vortex rather than a metaphorical influence
windstorm
vswind
8 3.0

A storm with very strong winds that can cause damage

is a general tendency or influence, not a specific damaging weather event
tailwind
vswind
8 3.5

A wind from behind that helps a vehicle go faster

is broader in scope rather than a directional push that aids movement
wild wind
vswind
4.4

A sudden powerful change that makes many people excited

is less sudden and more a general influence driving events over time

Antonyms

14 6.5

A habit of not acting or making changes when action is needed

1 6.5

Still water that does not move in pipes or lakes, causing poor quality

Idioms

10 3.9

Toward the wind that is blowing at you

in the wind
  • Informal
9 6.3

People are talking about something that is likely to happen soon

Moving toward where the wind comes from

Do something without worrying about the risks

So drunk that you cannot walk or speak clearly

close to the wind
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Sailing with the boat pointed almost into the wind to go as directly toward it as possible

1 8.7

To check what people think before you decide

1 8.1

To do something risky that almost breaks rules or laws

1 9.9

Spending time or effort on something that will not work

9.1

A person or thing that is fragile and easily hurt by difficulties

A hard situation where no choice seems good

Behaving in a way that is risky or near the limit of what is allowed

Says that something changes quickly and without warning

Easily hurt or upset in your feelings

Something very fragile that people or events can easily destroy

Able to bend and change without breaking

6.2

To accept changes and change your plans when needed

To feel anxious or nervous before something happens

Change opinions often to fit new people or situations

To find out what most people think before you act

willow in the wind
  • Literature
9.0

A person who moves or behaves in a smooth, flexible way like a dancer

6.4

You have support or good conditions that help you succeed

Compounds

37 2.8

A way to make electricity by using wind to turn large machines like windmills

wind turbine
  • Specialized
34 3.7

A machine with blades turned by wind to make electricity

29 1.6

A very strong wind that can blow down trees and cause damage

23 1.0

A wind that blows very hard and can move things

wind farm
  • Specialized
17 3.7

An area of land or sea with many tall machines that make electricity from wind

solar wind
  • Specialized
14 5.4

A stream of tiny charged particles that flow from the Sun into space

13 3.6

How cold the air feels when the wind blows

10 2.8

A hanging decoration that makes soft sounds in the wind

second wind
  • Informal
8 4.2

A new burst of energy that lets you keep going when you are tired

wind tunnel
  • Specialized
6 4.4

A large machine that moves air to test how it affects objects like cars or planes

trade wind
  • Specialized
5 3.2

A steady wind that blows east to west near the equator in tropical regions

prevailing wind
  • Specialized
5 3.9

The direction the wind blows most often in an area

3 1.6

A wind that blows from the north toward the south

3 4.6

A toy that moves after you turn a key or handle

wind generator
  • Specialized
2 4.1

A machine that uses wind to make electricity

1 1.8

A wind that blows from the east

1 1.0

A wind that blows from the south

1 1.6

A wind that blows from the west to the east

wind generation
  • Specialized
1 3.8

Electricity made from wind using turbines

An instrument that makes sound when you blow air through it, like a flute or trumpet

A wind that blows from the northwest

1 6.9

The act of letting gas out from the bottom, often with a sound

piss and wind
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Talk that has no useful information

wind park
  • Specialized
1 4.0

A place with many turbines that make electricity from wind

wind sock
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A cloth tube on a pole that shows wind direction and strength

wind-up
  • UK
1 6.5

An act that teases or tricks someone as a joke

wind-up
  • UK
1 3.6

The final part of an event or activity

wind-up
  • US
1 4.2

The movement a player makes before throwing the ball

9.9

A long-lasting lung problem in a horse that makes breathing out hard

catabatic wind
  • Specialized
9.3

A strong wind that blows when cold, heavy air flows down from high ground like a mountain or plateau

8.2

A warm dry wind that blows down the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains and quickly raises temperature

antitrade wind
  • Specialized
9.5

A wind in the tropics that blows from west to east above the trade winds

katabatic wind
  • Specialized
9.6

A cold wind that moves down a mountain slope

3.4

A very strong wind that blows hard

4.4

A sudden powerful change that makes many people excited

3.4

A decorative thing of metal, glass or clay that hangs and makes a soft tinkling sound in wind

A national park in South Dakota with limestone caves and bison herds

wind exposure
  • Specialized
5.1

The part of a building or ship that faces the wind and is open to it

wind gage
  • Specialized
8.2

A device that measures and records wind speed and direction

wind gap
  • Specialized
9.6

A pass in a mountain ridge that once had a stream but is now dry

wind gauge
  • Specialized
5.2

A tool that shows how fast the wind blows and which way it comes from

wind cone
  • Specialized
5.5

A cloth cone on a pole that shows wind direction and strength

wind deflection
  • Specialized
7.5

Sideways movement of a flying object when wind pushes it

wind energy facility
  • Specialized
3.7

A place with tall machines that use wind to make electricity

8.8

A wildflower with thin stems and bright red cup-shaped flowers that grows in California

wind rose
  • Specialized
8.3

A chart showing how often and how strong winds blow from each direction

wind scale
  • Specialized
4.6

A number scale from zero to twelve used worldwide to show how strong the wind is

8.8

An instrument like a harp with many strings that the wind moves to make sound

wind sleeve
  • Specialized
7.2

A cloth cone on a pole that shows wind direction and strength

wind tee
  • Specialized
7.7

A T-shaped post at an airfield that shows wind direction to pilots

wind vane
  • Specialized
3.9

A thing on a roof that turns to show which way the wind blows

wind-up
  • UK
7.4

The formal process of closing a company and paying its debts

How Influential

power
3.4
force
909 3.8
wind
196 6.8
movement
3.6
trend
667 2.3

Surface Forms

wind singular
winds plural

Etymology

Wind meaning a tendency or influence comes from the image of moving air that pushes things, so the phrase 'winds of change' shows how a force can move events.