wire
(waɪəʳ )
Word forms: wires , wiring , wired
1. variable noun B2
A wire is a long thin piece of metal that is used to fasten things or to carry electric current.
...fine copper wire.
...gadgets which detect electrical wires, pipes and timbers in walls.
2. countable noun B2
A wire is a cable which carries power or signals from one place to another.
I ripped out the phone wire that ran through to his office.
...the voltage of the overhead wires.
Synonyms: cable, lead, flex
3. verb [Also V n P to/into n]
If you wire something such as a building or piece of equipment, you put wires inside it so that electricity or signals can pass into or through it.
...learning to wire and plumb the house herself. [VERB noun]
Lamps should be safely wired. [VERB noun]
Each of the homes has a security system and is wired for cable television. [be VERB-ed + for]
...a badly wired appliance. [VERB-ed]
Wire up means the same as wire.
He was helping wire up the Channel Tunnel last season. [VERB PARTICLE noun]
Wire the thermometers up to trigger off an alarm bell if the temperature drops. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
Security experts wired up dozens of expensive plants to the main alarm system at his mansion. [V P n to/into n]
4. countable noun
A wire is the same as a telegram. [mainly US]
5. verb [Also VERB]
If you wire a person, you send them a telegram. [mainly US]
He wired the chairman immediately. [VERB noun]
They wired back a long list of books. [V n with back]
If I get another tummy ache, I will wire you to come. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
6. verb [Also VERB noun]
If you wire an amount of money to a person or place, you tell a bank to send it to the person or place using a telegram message. [mainly US]
I'm wiring you some money. [VERB noun noun]
They arranged to wire the money from the United States. [VERB noun preposition]
Investigators say nearly $100,000 was wired into the suspect's bank accounts. [VERB noun preposition]
Synonyms: send, cable, telegraph
7. to the wire phrase
If something goes to the wire, it continues until the last possible moment. [mainly journalism]
Negotiators again worked right down to the wire to reach an agreement.
8. See also barbed wire, high wire, hot-wire, live wire
Phrasal verbs:
wire up
wire [sense 3]
Image of wire
© Freelanceman, Shutterstock
Idioms:
down to the wire [mainly US]
until the last possible moment
As Congress worked down to the wire to reach a compromise, the president lectured a group of White House interns on the budget crisis.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
get in under the wire [mainly US]
to get in somewhere or do something at the last possible moment
On first reading it looks like they'll get in under the wire because they have a US partner on the team.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
a live wire
someone who is very lively and energetic
She is a wonderful girl, a real live wire and full of fun.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Translations:
Chinese: 电线
Japanese: 針金
- severe illness
- severe impact
- severe impairment
- severe infection
- severe inflammation
- severe injury
- severe lack
- severe limitations
- severe loss of
- severely
- severely depressed
- severely disadvantaged
- severely ill
- severely limited
- severe outbreak
- severe overcrowding
- severe pain
- severe penalty
- severe pollution
- severe poverty
- severe pressure
- severe problem
- severe punishment
- severe reaction
- severe recession