# wound

/ˈwaʊnd/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wound
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Senses

### 1. physical injury

noun · CEFR B1

an injury to your body, especially one where your skin is cut or broken.

For teachers: an injury involving a division of the skin or flesh, typically caused by a weapon or impact.

- The nurse cleaned the wound on his leg and covered it with a bandage.
- The surgeon examined the abdominal wound to ensure that no vital organs had been compromised by the shrapnel.

Usage: Often used with verbs like 'inflict', 'clean', or 'dress'.

### 2. emotional hurt

noun · CEFR B2

a feeling of deep sadness or anger caused by someone's unkind words or actions.

For teachers: a psychological or emotional trauma; a lasting feeling of distress resulting from a negative experience.

- It took a long time for the emotional wounds of the divorce to heal.
- The harsh criticism left a deep wound in his professional pride, affecting his confidence for years to come.

### 3. to injure physically

verb · CEFR B2

to hurt a person or animal by cutting or breaking their skin.

For teachers: to inflict a physical injury upon a living subject, typically involving a breach of the skin.

- Several soldiers were wounded during the battle and taken to the hospital.
- The suspect was wounded in the shoulder during the pursuit, though the injury was later classified as non-life-threatening.

Usage: Frequently used in the passive voice, especially in military or news contexts.

### 4. to hurt feelings

verb · CEFR B2

to say or do something that makes someone feel very upset or offended.

For teachers: to cause emotional pain or to offend someone's pride or sensibilities.

- She was deeply wounded by his comments about her appearance.
- He was visibly wounded by the board's decision to reject his proposal without a formal hearing.

## Examples

- The nurse cleaned the wound carefully.
- The surgeon examined the deep wound in the patient's leg to check for signs of infection.
- While physical wounds eventually heal with proper medical intervention, the psychological scars left by the incident proved far more resistant to treatment over the following decade.

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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.