1 [no object, with adverbial of direction] move in or take a twisting or spiral course:the path wound among olive trees
2 [with object and adverbial] pass (something) round a thing or person so as to encircle or enfold:he wound a towel around his midriff
repeatedly twist or coil (a length of something) round itself or a core:Anne wound the wool into a ball
[no object, with adverbial] be twisted or coiled:large vines wound round every tree
wrap or surround (a core) with a coiled length of something:devices wound with copper wire
3 [with object] make (a clock or other device, typically one operated by clockwork) operate by turning a key or handle:he wound up the clock every Saturday nightshe was winding the gramophone
turn (a key or handle) repeatedly round and round:I wound the handle as fast as I could
4 [with object and adverbial of direction] cause (an audio or video tape or a film) to move back or forwards to a desired point:I forgot how to wind the film on
5 [with object and adverbial of direction] hoist or draw (something) with a windlass, winch, or similar device.
noun
1a twist or turn in a course.
2a single turn made when winding.
Phrasal Verbs
wind down
(of a mechanism, especially one operated by clockwork) gradually lose power.
informal (of a person) relax after stress or excitement:I sank into a hot bath in order to wind down
(also wind something down) draw or bring gradually to a close:business began to wind down as people awaited the new regime
wind up
informal
1arrive or end up in a specified state, situation, or place:she wound up in hospital with pneumonia
2another way of saying sense 2 phrasalVerbs.he wound up by attacking Nonconformists
wind someone up
1British informal tease or irritate someone:she’s only winding me up
2make tense or angry:he was clearly wound up and frantic about his daughter
wind something up
1arrange the affairs of and dissolve a company:the company has since been wound up
2gradually or finally bring an activity to a conclusion:the experiments had to be wound up because the funding stopped
3 informal increase the tension, intensity, or power of something:he wound up the engine
Origin:
Old Englishwindan 'go rapidly', 'twine', of Germanic origin; related to wander and wend
