# WINS

/ˈwɪnz/ (US) · /wˈɪnz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wins
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to be victorious

verb · CEFR A2

to be the best or first in a game, race, or competition.

For teachers: to achieve victory in a competition, contest, or conflict. This is the third-person singular present form.

- Our team usually wins its home games because the fans are so loud.
- The candidate who wins the most votes in the primary election will represent the party in the general contest this November.

### 3. Microsoft software stack

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

Stands for Windows, IIS, .NET, and SQL Server. A group of Microsoft programs used together to run websites.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Windows, IIS, .NET, and SQL Server. A specific solution stack of Microsoft software used for web development and server management.

- The company decided to use a WINS stack for their new internal website.
- The development team debated whether to migrate to a Linux-based environment or maintain their existing WINS architecture for the legacy database applications.

## Examples

- The IT team had to configure WINS for the older office servers.
- While modern networks primarily use DNS for name resolution, some legacy applications still require WINS to identify older hardware on the subnet.
- The administrator maintained a WINS server to ensure that legacy workstations could still resolve NetBIOS names across different segments of the corporate network without relying on broadcast traffic.

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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.