# wiring

/ˈwaɪɹɪŋ/ (US) · /wˈaɪəɹɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wiring
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. electrical system

noun · CEFR B2

the system of wires that carries electricity around a building, car, or piece of equipment.

For teachers: the network of electrical conductors and associated fittings within a structure, vehicle, or electronic device.

- The old house needs new wiring because the current system is dangerous.
- The fire investigator determined that faulty electrical wiring behind the kitchen wall was the primary cause of the blaze.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the system as a whole.

### 2. brain/personality

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

the way someone's brain or personality is naturally organized.

For teachers: the metaphorical internal 'circuitry' of a person's mind or temperament, often implying an innate or biological basis.

- I am a morning person; it is just how my wiring works.
- Recent neurological studies suggest that the wiring of the adolescent brain makes teenagers more prone to risk-taking behaviour than adults.

Usage: Usually used with a possessive like 'my' or 'her'.

Teaching tip: This is a common metaphorical use in modern psychology and self-help contexts; it suggests that certain traits are hard-wired and difficult to change.

### 3. installing wires

verb · CEFR B2

the act of putting electric wires into a place or connecting them.

For teachers: the present participle of 'wire', referring to the process of installing electrical cables or connecting a circuit.

- He spent the whole afternoon wiring the new speakers to the stereo.
- Wiring the entire office complex for high-speed internet took the technical team nearly three weeks of intensive labour.

Usage: Functions as the gerund or present continuous form of the verb 'wire'.

## Examples

- The old wiring in the house needs replacing.
- An electrician checked the wiring behind the walls to find the short circuit.
- Modern smart homes require complex wiring that supports high-speed data transmission alongside standard power delivery, often demanding a complete retrofit of older infrastructure.

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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.