# wind /ˈwaɪnd/ (US) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wind Updated: 2026-08-08 ## Senses ### 1. moving air noun · CEFR A1 the natural movement of the air outside. For teachers: the perceptible natural movement of the air, especially in the form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction. - The strong wind blew my hat off while I was walking across the bridge. - The prevailing wind carries the scent of the pine forest across the valley, providing a natural cooling effect during the peak of summer. Usage: Pronounced /wɪnd/ (rhymes with 'pinned'). ### 2. breath noun · CEFR B2 your ability to breathe easily, especially during exercise. For teachers: the power of breathing freely; the capacity to maintain respiration during physical exertion. - The runner stopped for a moment to get her wind back after the steep hill. - A sharp blow to the solar plexus can momentarily knock the wind out of an athlete, causing a temporary paralysis of the diaphragm. Usage: Pronounced /wɪnd/ (rhymes with 'pinned'). ### 3. digestion gas noun · CEFR B1 · British English gas in the stomach or intestines that can make you feel uncomfortable. For teachers: gas generated in the stomach or bowels during digestion. - The baby was crying because she had a bit of wind after her bottle. - Certain legumes are known to cause wind if they are not soaked properly before cooking. Usage: Pronounced /wɪnd/ (rhymes with 'pinned'). ### 4. musical instruments noun · CEFR B2 the section of an orchestra that plays instruments you blow into, like flutes. For teachers: the woodwind and sometimes brass instruments of an orchestra or band collectively. - The composer wrote a beautiful melody specifically for the wind section. - The arrangement requires a strong wind section to balance the heavy brass and percussion during the final movement. Usage: Pronounced /wɪnd/ (rhymes with 'pinned'). ### 5. rumours noun · CEFR C1 · Informal information or news that you hear through gossip. For teachers: information or news of something, typically received through hearsay or informal channels. - The company tried to keep the merger secret, but the press got wind of it. - Investors grew nervous once they got wind of the impending regulatory changes that could affect the firm's profitability. Usage: Usually appears in the idiom 'to get wind of'. ### 6. to twist or wrap verb · CEFR B1 to wrap something around something else, or to turn a handle. For teachers: to wrap or encircle something around an object; to move in a twisting or spiral course. - You need to wind the wool into a ball before you start knitting. - The technician carefully began to wind the copper wire around the iron core to create a makeshift electromagnet. Usage: Pronounced /waɪnd/ (rhymes with 'kind'). The past tense is 'wound'. ### 7. to follow a curving path verb · CEFR B2 to follow a path that has many bends and turns. For teachers: to follow a course or way that is characterized by numerous turns, bends, or curves. - The narrow road winds through the mountains for several miles. - The river winds lazily through the floodplains, creating a series of oxbow lakes over centuries of erosion. Usage: Pronounced /waɪnd/ (rhymes with 'kind'). ### 8. to tighten a spring verb · CEFR B1 to turn a key or handle on a clock or toy to make it work. For teachers: to tighten the spring of a clockwork mechanism by turning a key or handle. - Don't forget to wind your watch before you go to sleep. - The antique grandfather clock must be wound every seven days to maintain its accuracy. Usage: Pronounced /waɪnd/ (rhymes with 'kind'). ### 9. to make breathless verb · CEFR B2 to make someone lose their breath for a short time, usually by hitting them. For teachers: to cause someone to become temporarily breathless, typically by a blow to the stomach or through sudden intense exertion. - The fall from the bike winded him for a few seconds. - The sudden sprint to catch the departing train completely winded the commuter, who sat gasping on the platform. Usage: Pronounced /wɪnd/ (rhymes with 'pinned'). The past tense is 'winded'. ### 10. to help a baby burp verb · CEFR B2 · British English to pat a baby's back so they can release gas after eating. For teachers: to encourage a baby to expel gas from the stomach by patting or stroking their back after feeding. - It is important to wind the baby after every feed to prevent colic. - New parents are often taught various techniques to wind an infant effectively to ensure the child sleeps comfortably. Usage: Pronounced /wɪnd/ (rhymes with 'pinned'). ## Examples - The strong wind blew my hat off my head. - The sailors waited for a steady wind before they began their journey across the bay. - Meteorologists track shifts in wind direction and speed to predict how weather patterns will develop over the coming week. --- From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.