• Wing

    Pronunciation

    • enPR: wÄ­ng, IPA: /wɪŋ/
    • US enPR: wÄ“ng, IPA: /wiːŋ/
    • Rhymes: -ɪŋ

    Alternative forms

    Origin

    From Middle English winge, wenge, from Old Norse vængr ("wing"). Cognate with Danish vinge ("wing"), Swedish vinge ("wing"), Icelandic vængur ("wing").

    Full definition of wing

    Noun

    wing

    (plural wings)
    1. An appendage of an animal's (bird, bat, insect) body that enables it to fly.
    2. (slang) Human arm.
    3. Part of an airplane that produces the lift for rising into the air.
    4. One of the large pectoral fins of a flying fish.
    5. One of the broad, thin, anterior lobes of the foot of a pteropod, used as an organ in swimming.
    6. (botany) Any membranaceous expansion, such as that along the sides of certain stems, or of a fruit of the kind called samara.
    7. (botany) Either of the two side petals of a papilionaceous flower.
    8. A side shoot of a tree or plant; a branch growing up by the side of another.
    9. Passage by flying; flight.to take wing
      • ShakespeareLight thickens; and the crow
        Makes wing to the rooky wood.
    10. Motive or instrument of flight; means of flight or of rapid motion.
      • ShakespeareFiery expedition be my wing.
    11. A part of something that is lesser in size than the main body, such as an extension from the main building.
    12. Anything that agitates the air as a wing does, or is put in winglike motion by the action of the air, such as a fan or vane for winnowing grain, the vane or sail of a windmill, etc.
    13. An ornament worn on the shoulder; a small epaulet or shoulder knot.
    14. A fraction of a political movement. Usually implies a position apart from the mainstream center position.
    15. An organizational grouping in a military aviation service:
      1. (British) A unit of command consisting of two or more squadrons and itself being a sub-unit of a group or station.
      2. (US) A larger formation of two or more groups, which in turn control two or more squadrons.
    16. (British) A panel of a car which encloses the wheel area, especially the front wheels.
    17. (nautical) A platform on either side of the bridge of a vessel, normally found in pairs.
    18. (nautical) That part of the hold or orlop of a vessel which is nearest the sides. In a fleet, one of the extremities when the ships are drawn up in line, or when forming the two sides of a triangle.
    19. (sports) A position in several field games on either side of the field.
    20. (sports) A player occupying such a position, also called a winger
      • 2011, September 2, , Wales 2-1 Montenegro, The Tottenham wing was causing havoc down the right and when he broke past the bemused Sasa Balic once again, Bellamy was millimetres from connecting with his cross as the Liverpool striker hurled himself at the ball.
    21. (botany) A flattened extension of a tridimensional plant organ.
    22. (typography, informal, rare) = háček
      • 1985, David Grambs, Literary Companion Dictionary, page 378ˇ wing, wedge, hÇŽcek, inverted circumflex (Karel ÄŒapek)
    23. One of the sides of the stage in a theatre.

    Synonyms

    Derived terms

    terms derived from wing (noun)

    Verb

    1. (transitive) To injure slightly (as with a gunshot), especially in the arm.
    2. (intransitive) To fly.
      • 1907, w, The Younger Set Chapter 5, Breezes blowing from beds of iris quickened her breath with their perfume ; … ; she saw a crimson cardinal winging through the foliage, and amorous tanagers flashing like scarlet flames athwart the pines.
    3. (transitive, of a building) To add a wing (extra part) to.
    4. (transitive) To act or speak extemporaneously; to improvise; to wing it.
    5. (transitive) To throw.
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