either of the two forelimbs of most birds and of bats, corresponding to the human arms, that are specialized for flight.
either of two corresponding parts in flightless birds, which may be rudimentary, as in certain ratite birds, or adapted for swimming, as in penguins.
one of the paired, thin, lateral extensions of the body wall of an insect, located on the mesothorax and the metathorax, by means of which it flies.
a similar structure with which gods, angels, demons, etc., are conceived to be provided for the purpose of flying.
Slang. an arm of a human being, especially a baseball player's pitching or throwing arm.
a means or instrument of flight, travel, or progress.
the act or manner of flying.
something resembling or likened to a bird's wing, as a vane or sail of a windmill.
Aeronautics.
one of a pair of airfoils attached transversely to the fuselage of an aircraft and providing lift.
both airfoils, taken collectively.
Architecture. a part of a building projecting on one side of, or subordinate to, a central or main part.
Furniture. either of two forward extensions of the sides of the back of an easy chair.
either of the two side portions of an army or fleet, usually called right wing and left wing, and distinguished from the center; flank units.
an administrative and tactical unit of the U.S. Air Force consisting of two or more groups, headquarters, and certain supporting and service units.
(in flight formation) noting a position to the side and just to the rear of another airplane.
Fortification. either of the longer sides of a crownwork, uniting it to the main work.
Sports. (in some team games) any one of the positions, or a player in such a position, on the far side of the center position, known as the left and right wings with reference to the direction of the opposite goal.
Theater.
the platform or space on the right or left of the stage proper.
wing flat.
Anatomy. an ala: the wings of the sphenoid.
Botany.
any leaflike expansion, as of a samara.
one of the two side petals of a papilionaceous flower.
either of the parts of a double door, screen, etc.
the feather of an arrow.
a faction within a political party, as at one extreme or the other: conflict between the right wing and the left wing.
Nautical. one of the far side areas of the hold of a merchant vessel.
British. a fender of an automobile, truck, bicycle, or other vehicle.
verb (used with object)
to equip with wings.
to enable to fly, move rapidly, etc.; lend speed or celerity to.
to supply with a winglike part, a side structure, etc.
to transport on or as on wings.
to perform or accomplish by wings.
to traverse in flight.
to wound or disable in the wing: to wing a bird.
to wound (a person) in an arm or other nonvital part.
to bring down (as a flying bird) by a shot.
Informal. to throw; lob: He winged a ball through the neighbor's window.
to brush or clean with a wing.
Theater. to perform (a part, role, etc.) relying on prompters in the wings.
verb (used without object)
to travel on or as if on wings; fly; soar: They are winging to the coast.
Idioms for wing
on the wing,
in flight, or flying: a bird on the wing.
in motion; traveling; active: Scouts are on the wing in search of a new talent.
take wing,
to begin to fly; take to the air.
to leave in haste; depart: Our resolutions to economize swiftly took wing.
under one's wing, under one's protection, care, or patronage: She took the orphan under her wing.
wing it, Informal. to accomplish or execute something without sufficient preparation or experience; improvise: He had no time to study, so he had to wing it.
Origin of wing
1125–75; Middle English wenge (plural noun) <Old Danish wingæ; compare Norwegian, Swedish vinge,Old Norse vǣngr
OTHER WORDS FROM wing
outwing,verb (used with object)
Words nearby wing
winetasting, winey, Winfield, Winfred, Winfrey, wing, wing and wing, Wingate, wingback, wingback formation, wing bar
The wing has to be descending for this to happen, and it cannot descend indefinitely.
The science behind how an aircraft glides|By Peter Garrison/Flying Mag|September 3, 2020|Popular Science
You can blame the Sixers’ guards and wings for their seeming inability to throw simple entry passes.
When Joel Embiid Posts Up, The Celtics Are Ready|Jared Dubin|August 21, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Though the California judge’s decision will only impact ride-hailing services, delivery service DoorDash is watching closely from the wings.
Will Uber and Lyft shut down in California?|Danielle Abril|August 18, 2020|Fortune
Some beetles, though, are beautifully shimmery from tiny structures in their wings.
Let’s learn about colors|Bethany Brookshire|June 11, 2020|Science News For Students
A host of alternatives to silicon are waiting in the wings, such as photonics, carbon nanotube transistors, and superconducting circuits, but none are close to being able to replace the technology we’ve become so reliant on.
Computing Power Can Keep Growing as Moore’s Law Winds Down. Here’s How|Edd Gent|June 8, 2020|Singularity Hub
RELATED: Wing Span: The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (PHOTOS) Not everyone agreed with her assessment.
I Got Kicked Out Of The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show|Nico Hines|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Is Clinton too close to the Wall Street-Goldman Sachs wing of the Democratic Party?
Want President Hillary? Then Primary Her|Jeff Greenfield|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bush, meanwhile, hails from the more moderate “establishment” wing of the GOP.
The Most Interesting Place to Be Tonight|Tim Mak|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But perhaps a better name for this crowd would be “the Dan Malloy wing of the Democratic Party.”
Dan Malloy Is Progressives’ Dream Governor. So Why Isn’t He Winning?|David Freedlander|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Murphy took him under his wing, and one day he gave Rock To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With.
Why Comedians Still Think Bill Cosby Is a Genius|Mark Whitaker|October 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In shooting on the wing he thought that his young friend was superior to any one on the grounds.
The Cave by the Beech Fork|Henry S. Spalding
They are plovers that subsist largely upon flying insects which they catch when on the wing.
Glimpses of Indian Birds|Douglas Dewar
The wings of the Blriot had the Wright brothers' wing warping arrangement.
The Romance of Aircraft|Lawrence Yard Smith
One wing of the building is inhabited by the male, and the other by the female patients.
Travels Through North America, v. 1-2|Berhard Saxe-Weimar Eisenach
The people of that country are constantly seeing men on the wing, who come and enter this monastery.
Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms|Fa-Hsien
British Dictionary definitions for wing
wing
/ (wɪŋ) /
noun
either of the modified forelimbs of a bird that are covered with large feathers and specialized for flight in most species
one of the organs of flight of an insect, consisting of a membranous outgrowth from the thorax containing a network of veins
either of the organs of flight in certain other animals, esp the forelimb of a bat
a half of the main supporting surface on an aircraft, confined to one side of it
the full span of the main supporting surface on both sides of an aircraft
an aircraft designed as one complete wing
a position in flight formation, just to the rear and to one side of an aircraft
an organ or apparatus resembling a wing
anatomyany bodily structure resembling a wingthe wings of a sphenoid bone Technical name: ala
anything suggesting a wing in form, function, or position, such as a sail of a windmill or a ship
botany
either of the lateral petals of a sweetpea or related flower
any of various outgrowths of a plant part, esp the process on a wind-dispersed fruit or seed
a means or cause of flight or rapid motion; flightfear gave wings to his feet
the act or manner of flyinga bird of strong wing
Britishthe part of a car body that surrounds the wheelsUS and Canadian name: fender
any affiliate of or subsidiary to a parent organization
sport
either of the two sides of the pitch near the touchline
a player stationed in such a position; winger
a faction or group within a political party or other organizationSee also left wing, right wing
a part of a building that is subordinate to the main part
(plural)the space offstage to the right or left of the acting area in a theatre
in the wingsready to step in when needed
fortificationsa side connecting the main fort and an outwork
a folding panel, as of a double door or a movable partition
either of the two pieces that project forwards from the sides of some chairbacks
the US name for quarterlight
a surface fitted to a racing car to produce aerodynamic download to hold it on the road at high speed
(plural)an insignia in the form of stylized wings worn by a qualified aircraft pilot
a tactical formation in some air forces, consisting of two or more squadrons
any of various flattened organs or extensions in lower animals, esp when used in locomotion
the side of a hold alongside a ship's hull
the outside angle of the cutting edge on the share and mouldboard of a plough
a jetty or dam for narrowing a channel of water
on a wing and a prayerwith only the slightest hope of succeeding
on the wing
flying
travelling
about to leave
take wing
to lift off or fly away
to depart in haste
to become joyful
under one's wingin one's care or tutelage
clip someone's wings
to restrict someone's freedom
to thwart someone's ambition
on wingsflying or as if flying
spread one's wingsorstretch one's wingsto make full use of one's abilities
verb(mainly tr)
(also intr)to make (one's way) swiftly on or as if on wings
to shoot or wound (a bird, person, etc) superficially, in the wing or arm, etc
to cause to fly or move swiftlyto wing an arrow
to fit (an arrow) with a feather
to provide with wings
(of buildings, altars, etc) to provide with lateral extensions
wing itinformalto accomplish or perform something without full preparation or knowledge; improvise
Derived forms of wing
winglike, adjective
Word Origin for wing
C12: from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse vǣngir (plural), Norwegian veng
Any of various paired movable organs of flight, such as the modified forelimb of a bird or bat or one of the membranous organs extending from the thorax of an insect.
Something that resembles a wing in appearance, function, or position relative to a main body.
One of a pair of specialized parts used for flying, as in birds, bats, or insects.
A thin, papery projection on certain fruits that are dispersed by the wind, such as the fruits of ash, elm, and maple trees. See also samara.
A part extending from the side of an aircraft, such as an airplane, having a curved upper surface that causes the pressure of air rushing over it to decrease, thereby providing lift.