wing
(wɪŋ )
Word forms: wings , winging, winged
1. countable noun B1
The wings of a bird or insect are the two parts of its body that it uses for flying.
The bird flapped its wings furiously.
She saw the occasional glimmer of a moth's wings.
Synonyms: organ of flight, pinion [poetic], pennon [poetic]
-winged combining form
...black-winged birds.
2. countable noun B2
The wings of an aeroplane are the long flat parts sticking out of its side which support it while it is flying.
-winged combining form
...a wide-winged plane.
3. countable noun
A wing of a building is a part of it which sticks out from the main part.
We were given an office in the empty west wing.
...in the Child Psychiatry wing of London's Royal Free Hospital.
Synonyms: annexe, part, side, section
4. countable noun
A wing of an organization, especially a political organization, is a group within it which has a particular function or particular beliefs.
The military wing of the organisation was banned.
...the liberal wing of the Democratic Party.
Synonyms: faction, grouping, group, set
5. See also left-wing, right-wing
6. plural noun
In a theatre, the wings are the sides of the stage which are hidden from the audience by curtains or scenery.
Most nights I watched the start of the play from the wings.
7. countable noun
In a game such as football or hockey, the left wing and the right wing are the areas on the far left and the far right of the pitch. You can also refer to the players who play in these positions as the left wing and the right wing.
8. countable noun
A wing of a car is a part of it on the outside which is over one of the wheels. [British]
regional note: in AM, use fender9. plural noun [usually poss NOUN]
When pilots get their wings, they become qualified to fly aeroplanes.
He had no sooner got his wings than the Korean conflict broke out.
10. verb
If you say that something or someone wings their way somewhere or wings somewhere, you mean that they go there quickly, especially by plane.
A few moments later they were airborne and winging their way south. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
A cash bonanza will be winging its way to the 600,000 members of the scheme. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
The first of the airliners winged westwards and home. [VERB adverb/preposition]
11. to clip someone's wings phrase [VERB inflects]
If you say that something or someone clips your wings, you mean that they restrict your freedom to do what you want. [informal]
...legislation aimed at clipping the president's political wings.
12. in the wings phrase
If you say that someone is waiting in the wings, you mean that they are ready and waiting for an opportunity to take action.
There are big companies waiting in the wings to take over its business.
13. to spread your wings phrase
If you spread your wings, you do something new and rather difficult or move to a new place, because you feel more confident in your abilities than you used to and you want to gain wider experience.
I led a very confined life in my village so I suppose that I wanted to spread my wings.
14. take sb under one's wing phrase
If you take someone under your wing, you look after them, help them, and protect them.
Her boss took her under his wing after fully realising her potential.
Vocabulary Builder
CAR: EXTERIOR boot roof wheel window door windscreen wiper bonnet wing bumper windscreen tyre wing mirror number plate headlight indicator Idioms:
do something on a wing and a prayer
to do something in the hope that you will succeed, even though you do not have the proper resources for it, or are not properly equipped or prepared
Whatever the cause, large parts of the government seem to be running on a wing and a prayer.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
take someone under your wing
to protect someone and make sure that they are all right
I let him tag along because he had not been too well recently. I took him under my wing and looked after him.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
under the wing of someone
in a situation in which someone controls you or takes responsibility for you
If their problems are picked up at school and they come under the wing of an educational psychologist, they may be found a place in a special school.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Translations:
Chinese: 翅膀, 机翼
Japanese: 翼, 翼