Definition of wind2

wind2verb

wind2

/waɪnd//waɪnd/

Word OriginOld English windan ‘go rapidly’, ‘twine’, of Germanic origin; related to wander and wend.

namespace

to have many bends and twists

Example:
  • The path wound down to the beach.
  • A wooden staircase winds up to the attic.
  • The king's funeral procession wound slowly through city.
  • The river winds its way between two meadows.

Related words and phrases

to wrap or twist something around itself or something else

Example:
  • He wound the wool into a ball.
  • Wind the bandage around your finger.
  • He wound the bandage tightly around his ankle.
  • They wind individual strands of fibre together to make home-made rope.

to operate a tape, film, etc. so that it moves nearer to its ending or starting position

Example:
  • He wound the tape back to the beginning.
  • Wind forward to the bit where they discover the body.
  • With these cameras, after you click the shutter, you have to wind the film on.

to make a clock or machine work by turning a knob, handle, etc. several times; to be able to be made to work in this way

Example:
  • He had forgotten to wind his watch.
  • It was one of those old-fashioned gramophones that winds up.

Related words and phrases

to turn a handle several times

Example:
  • You operate the trapdoor by winding this handle.

Idioms

wind/twist/wrap somebody around your little finger
(informal)to persuade somebody to do anything that you want
  • She has always been able to wind her parents around her little finger.