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to wire

to wire

42 3.2
To fasten small objects by threading thin metal through them
  • verb
  • /waɪər/
translation icon : fijar con alambre
  • All our elevators are wired into our system.
  • wire a net

Examples

  • I'm going to wire both of you guys now.

  • He plans to wire the garden shed to keep the tools secure.

  • Lucky for you they wired the wrong car.

  • I'm gonna grab a few things I saw on the security camera while you wire up the cars.

  • Our workshops have repaired it... and wired parts of it for the new electric light.

  • They will wire the new office with advanced technology for better connectivity.

  • The technician had to wire several circuits to ensure the lights worked correctly.

Synonyms

to tie
vsto wire
923 1.0

To fasten things together by making a knot with string or rope

uses thin metal filament instead of knotting to join or secure pieces
to thread
vsto wire
22 3.0

To pass a thin string through a small hole or eye

uses thin metal filament to fasten or string items rather than soft cord
to rope
vsto wire
11 1.0

To tie or secure something with a strong cord

uses thin metal filament rather than a thick flexible line to fasten
to draw
vsto wire
5 8.1

Put beads or small objects onto a string

uses thin metal filament to secure items rather than sliding them onto cord
to lash together
vsto wire
1 4.4

To tie things together with rope to hold them in place

uses thin metal filament to secure parts rather than heavy binding
to cable
vsto wire
1 5.5

To fasten something with a strong wire or rope

uses thinner metal filament rather than heavy metal strand lengths to fasten
to tie in knots
vsto wire
1 3.2

Fasten a rope or string so it does not come loose

fastens using thin metal filament rather than relying on knots

Idioms

down to the wire
  • Informal
14 7.0

Not decided until the very last moment before a deadline

To continue until the last possible moment while the result is not known

5 5.9

Reach a point where the result is not decided until the last moment

At the last moment before time runs out

Compounds

43 3.4

Wire with sharp points used to stop people or animals from crossing

wire service
  • Literature
13 3.9

A company that collects news and sends it to newspapers or TV stations

8 2.6

A hand tool with two handles and sharp blades for cutting wire

7 3.4

A light, flexible wire mesh with small six-sided holes used to make fences for chickens and gardens

7 6.6

A tight rope high above the ground that acrobats walk on

A thin metal line that carries phone calls

piano wire
  • Specialized
3 5.6

A thin strong steel wire used for piano strings and to make springs

3 6.1

A low wire that makes a trap, alarm, or camera go off when someone walks into it

live wire
  • Informal
2 4.6

A person who is very lively and full of energy

baling wire
  • Specialized
1 4.5

A strong wire used to tie bales of hay or cotton

live wire
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A wire that is carrying electric current and is dangerous to touch

telegraph wire
  • Archaic
1 4.8

A wire that carries messages or signals over long distances

wire recorder
  • Archaic
1 9.8

An old machine that saves sound on thin metal wire and plays it back

guy wire
  • Specialized
1 6.3

A strong cable that holds things like a pole or tent by attaching it to the ground

wire glass
  • Specialized
1 5.2

Glass with wire mesh inside that holds pieces if it breaks

wire cloth
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A woven metal mesh used for filters or screens

A hand tool that removes the covering from electric wires

1 4.6

A pad of fine steel fibers used to clean and smooth metal and other hard surfaces

conducting wire
  • Specialized
3.4

A thin metal line that carries electricity from one place to another

cross wire
  • Specialized
7.7

Thin crossed lines in devices like a telescope or microscope that help you aim

Malheur wire lettuce
  • Specialized
9.9

A rare flowering plant from Oregon that looks like mustard and is at risk

trip wire
  • Jargon
8.4

A small military force placed to make other forces respond if it is attacked

wire gage
  • Specialized
6.9

A small tool for measuring how thick a wire is

wire gauge
  • Specialized
4.3

A tool for measuring the thickness of wire

7.2

A hardy North American grass that has stiff stems and pale brown leaves in autumn

wire grass
  • Australian
8.2

A coarse one-year grass that has long thin flower spikes and often grows as a weed

5.2

A machine that prints letters and numbers as small dots using thin wires that hit an ink ribbon

wire printer
  • Archaic
4.4

A printer that makes letters from dots by striking paper with thin metal wires

wire-guided torpedo
  • Specialized
8.6

An underwater weapon that moves by itself and is steered by a wire from the ship that fired it

A small energetic dog with rough, wiry fur and a bushy face

A medium-sized hunting dog that points to birds, with rough outer fur and a soft undercoat

A small dog with rough, stiff hair

wire-puller
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who secretly controls others to get what they want

word on the wire
  • Informal
8.0

News people share that is not official, often as a rumor

Surface Forms

wire infinitive
wired past
wired past participle
wiring present participle
wires third person singular

Etymology

Wire (verb) to fasten things means to tie or hold them with a thin metal 'wire', and the verb simply names the action of using wire to keep objects together.