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to wind

to wind

225 3.2
To wrap something around another thing in a coil
  • verb
  • /waɪnd/
translation icon : enrollar
  • The knob here winds the film back through the rollers.
  • wind into coils
  • wind silk thread

So think not quite so advanced, but think of like wind up toys.

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Examples

  • To get the toy to work, you need to wind the key until it clicks.

  • Before a tree can grow, it must wind its roots into the ground.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • So you would put in your cable here in the little USB port, wind it up, kind of put it inside here, boom.

  • Alfie jogged along the wooded lane that wound through the park outside the hospital compound.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Her dark hair, streaked with grey, was wound in a bun at the nape of her neck.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Before storing the extension cord, make sure to wind it neatly to prevent tangling.

  • He carefully winds the yarn around the spool to keep it organized.

Synonyms

to wrap
vsto wind
729 1.0

To cover something by putting material around it

focuses on enclosing for protection rather than merely forming spirals or encircling
to roll
vsto wind
387 1.3

To shape something into a long round form by turning it

produces cylindrical or rounded forms specifically, rather than only encircling or spiralling
to twist
vsto wind
231 1.7

To turn something so it becomes a curved or spiral shape

often describes a turning motion rather than specifically encircling or forming long spirals
to curl
vsto wind
173 1.1

To form into a curved or spiral shape

tends to describe small localized curves rather than extensive encircling or spiralling
to loop
vsto wind
28 2.5

To wind something around to make a ring

describes a single circular turn rather than extended spiralling or encircling
to coil
vsto wind
7 3.8

To wind something into loops or move in a spiral

often emphasizes repeated circular rings rather than encircling a single object
to convolute
vsto wind
1 8.4

Twist or coil together into a tight, tangled mass

stresses complex tangling and irregular forms rather than simple regular spirals
to twine
vsto wind
1 4.1

To twist threads together or wind them around something

is broader and covers encircling or spiralling objects beyond merely binding strands
to twistle
vsto wind
  • UK
9.9

To wrap something by turning it around another object

is more general and includes forming spirals not only encircling objects
to windle
vsto wind
  • UK
9.9

To twist something into a tight coil

is broader, applying to encircling objects as well as forming spirals
to convolve
vsto wind
  • Archaic
9.3

To twist or coil together into a spiral shape

emphasizes parts joined into each other rather than simple encircling of one object
to circumvolute
vsto wind
  • Specialized
9.9

To wind or twist inward in a spiral like a snail's shell

is more general, applying to any spiral or encircling not only inward turns
to wreathe
vsto wind
7.5

To move in slow twisting ways like smoke or vines

describes slow flowing movement rather than actively forming encircling shapes around objects

Antonyms

5 3.7

Make a wrapped or twisted thing loose and straight

2 3.7

To make something that is twisted become straight

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

Phrasal Verbs

to wind up
  • Informal
523 4.3

Finally be in a place or situation you did not plan

to wind down
  • Informal
39 3.7

To relax after a busy or stressful time and slowly come to an end

31 5.8

Hear about something by chance, not from official sources

17 3.7

Bring an activity or meeting to an end

14 4.4

Turn a watch or toy spring so it starts to work

to catch wind of
  • Informal
7 5.4

Hear about something from other people before official news

4 5.0

Move the throwing arm in a circle before throwing the ball

To let gas out of your bottom

To use wind power to move something like a boat or windmill

1 6.5

To let gas from inside your body out through your bottom

To suddenly feel nervous or worried

1 4.8

To end up in a difficult situation because of your choices

To unroll something or slowly finish a task

to wind up late
  • Informal
4.4

Arrive somewhere later than expected, often by accident

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 Tight

to bind
132 3.2
to tie
923 1.0
to wind
225 3.2
to coil
7 3.8
to loop
28 2.5

Surface Forms

wind infinitive
winding present participle
winds third person singular
wound past
wound past participle

Etymology

Wind meaning to wrap or coil comes from an old word meaning 'to turn', the same idea you see in winding road and rewind, so to wind a rope is to turn it around something.