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Glite Dictionary
to catch the wind

to catch the wind

2 5.1
To use wind power to move something like a boat or windmill
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : aprovechar el viento
  • He skillfully used the kite's design to catch the wind and soar high above the park.
  • sails that catch the wind
  • wings catching the wind

Examples

  • The next day, Emily once again pedaled off to catch the wind.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • A few hang giant shades over orchards, immense sails that catch the wind and cast shadows across the trees.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • You cannot catch the wind!

    Ghost Rider (2007)

  • I need to catch the wind.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • I better catch the wind while it's blowing.

    Valiant (2005)

  • "I will catch the wind all by myself," Emily said.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • After school, Emily hung her yellow canvas bag over her shoulder, climbed on her bike, and pedaled off to catch the wind.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • The sheave at the mast top screeched unwillingly, but the sail climbed and caught the wind.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The sailors adjusted the sails to catch the wind and moved swiftly across the water.

  • As the boat sailed away from the shore, it began to catch the wind and pick up speed.

Synonyms

sail
vsto catch the wind
103 1.0

A large piece of strong fabric on a boat that catches wind to move the boat

uses wind force for propulsion by adjusting surfaces rather than being an object

Antonyms

windless
2 4.0

A time or place with no wind

Surface Forms

catch the wind infinitive
catching the wind present participle
catches the wind third person singular
caught the wind past
caught the wind past participle

Morphology

catch + the + wind

The meaning 'to use the force of the wind for movement or propulsion' follows directly from combining 'catch' (to seize or take hold of) with 'wind' (moving air); the notion of 'catching' wind to harness it is a literal, physical image. This composition is cross-linguistically natural and follows standard motion/agent + element logic, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The verb catch the wind comes from boats and windmills: to turn a sail or a blade so it can catch the wind and let the air push you forward, so it means 'to use the force of the wind for movement'.