wire
[ wahyuh r ]
/ waɪər /
noun
a slender, stringlike piece or filament of relatively rigid or flexible metal, usually circular in section, manufactured in a great variety of diameters and metals depending on its application.
such pieces as a material.
a length of such material, consisting either of a single filament or of several filaments woven or twisted together and usually insulated with a dielectric material, used as a conductor of electricity.
a cross wire or a cross hair.
a barbed-wire fence.
a long wire or cable used in cable, telegraph, or telephone systems.
Nautical.
a wire rope.
Informal.
- a telegram.
- the telegraphic system: to send a message by wire.
wires,
a system of wires by which puppets are moved.
a metallic string of a musical instrument.
Underworld Slang.
the member of a pickpocket team who picks the victim's pocket.
Compare stall2(def 5).
Horse Racing.
a wire stretched across and above the track at the finish line, under which the horses pass.
Ornithology.
one of the extremely long, slender, wirelike filaments or shafts of the plumage of various birds.
a metal device for snaring rabbits and other small game.
Papermaking.
the woven wire mesh over which the wet pulp is spread in a papermaking machine.
the wire,
the telephone: There's someone on the wire for you.
adjective
made of wire; consisting of or constructed with wires.
resembling wire; wirelike.
verb (used with object), wired, wir·ing.
to furnish with wires.
to install an electric system of wiring in, as for lighting.
to fasten or bind with wire: He wired the halves together.
to put on a wire, as beads.
to send by telegraph, as a message: Please wire the money at once.
to send a telegraphic message to: She wired him to come at once.
to snare by means of a wire.
to equip with a hidden electronic device, as an eavesdropping device or an explosive.
to connect (a receiver, area, or building) to a television cable and other equipment so that cable television programs may be received.
Informal.
to be closely connected or involved with: a law firm wired into political circles.
Informal.
to prepare, equip, fix, or arrange to suit needs or goals: The sales force was wired for an all-out effort.
Croquet.
to block (a ball) by placing it behind the wire of an arch.
verb (used without object), wired, wir·ing.
to send a telegraphic message; telegraph: Don't write; wire.
Idioms for wire
down to the wire,
to the very last moment or the very end, as in a race or competition: The candidates campaigned down to the wire.
pull wires, Informal.
to use one's position or influence to obtain a desired result: to pull wires to get someone a job.
under the wire,
just within the limit or deadline; scarcely; barely: to get an application in under the wire.
Origin of wire
before 900; Middle English
wir(e) (noun), Old English
wīr; cognate with Low German
wīr, Old Norse
vīra- wire, Old High German
wiara fine goldwork
OTHER WORDS FROM wire
wir·a·ble, adjective
wire·like, adjective
de·wire, verb (used with object), de·wired, de·wir·ing.
mis·wire, verb, mis·wired, mis·wir·ing.
pre·wire, verb (used with object), pre·wired, pre·wir·ing.
un·wir·a·ble, adjective
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH wire
why're wireWords nearby wire
wiped-out,
wipeout,
wiper,
wipo,
wiradjuri,
wire,
wire brush,
wire cloth,
wire cutter,
wire entanglement,
wire fraud
Example sentences from the Web for wire
As zealots poured in from Arkansas and Mississippi, a wire service reporter got punched in the ribs.
On the day of the AFI dinner, Hitchcock receives a wire from Frank Capra, who is in Palm Springs.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days |David Freeman |December 13, 2014 |DAILY BEAST“The [wire] interceptions speak for themselves,” Marino said Friday.
The Mayor Who Took Down the Mafia That Ruined Rome |Barbie Latza Nadeau |December 6, 2014 |DAILY BEASTHolding the architectural smorgasbord of a castle together was cement, wire, and mortar.
The actor (The Wire, Treme) and activist made no bones about his political leanings, proclaiming himself “a real live lefty.”
Words over the wire never sounded better to the frightened boy than those words.
The Mountain Divide |Frank H. SpearmanWhen he fails to get an answer to his call he'll think that this huge snow has broken down the wire.
The Hosts of the Air |Joseph A. AltshelerThey paused for a moment at the wire fencing, and looked through.
Idle Ideas in 1905 |Jerome K. JeromeYou have him wire the best price he can get, and I'll go it one better.
The Boy Scouts in A Trapper's Camp |Thornton W. BurgessLa Touche took the roll of wire and held it in his hands for a moment.
The Beach of Dreams |H. De Vere Stacpoole
British Dictionary definitions for wire
wire
/ (waɪə) /
noun
a slender flexible strand or rod of metal
a cable consisting of several metal strands twisted together
a flexible metallic conductor, esp one made of copper, usually insulated, and used to carry electric current in a circuit
(modifier)
of, relating to, or made of wire
a wire fence; a wire stripper
anything made of wire, such as wire netting, a barbed wire fence, etc
a long continuous wire or cable connecting points in a telephone or telegraph system
a metallic string on a guitar, piano, etc
horse racing, mainly US and Canadian
the finishing line on a racecourse
a wire-gauze screen upon which pulp is spread to form paper during the manufacturing process
anything resembling a wire, such as a hair
a snare made of wire for rabbits and similar animals
to the wire or down to the wire informal
right up to the last moment
get in under the wire informal, mainly US and Canadian
to accomplish something with little time to spare
get one's wires crossed informal
to misunderstand
pull wires mainly US and Canadian
to exert influence behind the scenes, esp through personal connections; pull strings
take it to the wire
to compete to the bitter end to win a competition or title
verb (mainly tr)
(also intr)
to send a telegram to (a person or place)
to send (news, a message, etc) by telegraph
to equip (an electrical system, circuit, or component) with wires
to fasten or furnish with wire
(often foll by up)
to provide (an area) with fibre optic cabling to receive cable television
to string (beads, etc) on wire
croquet
to leave (a player's ball) so that a hoop or peg lies between it and the other balls
to snare with wire
wire in informal
to set about (something, esp food) with enthusiasm
Derived forms of wire
wirelike, adjectiveWord Origin for wire
Old English
wīr; related to Old High German
wiara, Old Norse
vīra, Latin
viriae bracelet
Idioms and Phrases with wire
wire
see down to the wire; get one's wires crossed; live wire; pull strings (wires); under the wire.