Pronunciations (8)
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/waɪə(ɹ)/
Pronunciation notes
- UK
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/ˈwaɪɚ/
Pronunciation notes
- US
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/waɪ(ə)ɹ/
Pronunciation notes
- Canada
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/wʌɪ(ə)ɹ/
Pronunciation notes
- Canada
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[wäɪɚ]
Pronunciation notes
- Ontario
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[wəɪɚ]
Pronunciation notes
- Ontario
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waɪə(ɹ)
Pronunciation notes
- GB
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ˈwaɪɚ
Pronunciation notes
- US
Noun
Metal formed into a thin, even thread, now usually by being drawn through a hole in a steel die.
Usage- Uncountable
- Examples
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Holonyms: cable; wire rope; wiring harness; wire wool
More examples (1)
From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much. Those entering it are greeted by wire fences, walls dating back to colonial times and security posts. For mariners leaving the port after lonely nights on the high seas, the delights of the B52 Night Club and Stallion Pub lie a stumble away.
A piece of such material; a thread or slender rod of metal, a cable.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
A metal conductor that carries electricity.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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That wire powers the lamp.
More examples (1)
Time is running out, so I renounce a spin on a Class 387 for a fast run to Paddington on another Class 800 - a shame as the weather was perfect for pictures. Even so, it's enjoyable - boy, can those trains shift under the wires.
A fence made of usually barbed wire.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
A finish line of a racetrack.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
A telecommunication wire or cable.
Usage- Countable
- Informal
- Uncountable
- Examples
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The episode began by a telephone ring in the morning and the voice of Algernon Mailey at the far end of the wire.
An electric telegraph; a telegram.
Usage- broadly
- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (2)
Another letter. "Friedrichswerks, Hamburg, Germany. We beg to acknowledge receipt of order for fifteen thousand Robots." [Telephone rings.] Hello! This is the Central Office. Yes. Certainly. Well, send them a wire. Good. [Hangs up telephone.] Where did I leave off?
“Oh, hadn’t I told you?” the other said quickly. “I had a wire yesterday. He landed in New York Wednesday. It was such a mixed-up sort of message, I never could understand what he was trying to tell me, except that he would have to stay in New York for a week or so. It was over fifty words long.”
A hidden listening device on the person of an undercover operative for the purposes of obtaining incriminating spoken evidence.
Usage- Countable
- Slang
- Uncountable
A deadline or critical endpoint.
Usage- Countable
- Informal
- Uncountable
- Examples
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This election is going to go right to the wire
If you don't surrender now, it's gonna go down to the wire
A wire strung with beads and hung horizontally above or near the table which is used to keep score.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
Any of the system of wires used to operate the puppets in a puppet show; hence, the network of hidden influences controlling the action of a person or organization; strings.
Usage- Countable
- plural-normally
- Uncountable
- Examples
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to pull the wires for office
A pickpocket, especially one who targets women.
Usage- Archaic
- Countable
- Uncountable
A covert signal sent between people cheating in a card game.
Usage- Countable
- Slang
- Uncountable
A knitting needle.
Usage- Scotland
- Countable
- Uncountable
A long, filamenteous, ornamental feather.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Over the forehead is a large patch of pure white feathers, which shine like satin; and from the sides of the head spring the six wonderful feathers from which the bird receives its name. These are slender wires, six inches long, with a small oval web at the extremity.
Verb
To fasten with wire, especially with reference to wine bottles, corks, or fencing.
- Examples
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We need to wire that hole in the fence.
I could see him in his plane flying low over the river or a reservoir, dropping the club out with a chunk of lead wired to the shaft.
To string on a wire.
- Examples
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wire beads
To equip with wires for use with electricity.
- Examples
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Do you know how to wire a plug?
More examples (1)
Replying on March 20 to a Commons Written Question from Alberto Costa (Conservative, South Leicestershire) about plans to wire to Leicester, Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: "We are currently investing in the biggest upgrade of the Midland Main Line since it was completed in 1870. [...]
To connect, embed, incorporate, or include (something) into (something else) by or as if by wires: To add (something) into a system (especially an electrical system) by means of wiring.
- Examples
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I'll just wire your camera to the computer screen.
More examples (1)
Assuming that all of the conference rooms are wired into the LAN, the sales representative would have to carry a cable to connect into any conference room that they visit, find the appropriate wall jack, and connect into the network.
To connect, embed, incorporate, or include (something) into (something else) by or as if by wires: To add or connect (something) into a system as if with wires (for example, with nerves).
- Examples
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There is an enormous neurological consequence to mechanorecptor dysfunction, which is related to how these cells are wired into the spinal cord.
More examples (1)
The distal tier of cells has a wider acceptance angle than the proximal tier and different neuronal wiring (distal photoreceptors are wired into the lamina, while proximal photoreceptors are wired into the medulla), as well as a different spectral receptor composition.
To connect, embed, incorporate, or include (something) into (something else) by or as if by wires: To connect, involve or embed (something) deeply or intimately into (something else, such as an organization or political scene), so that it is plugged in (to that thing) (“keeping up with current information about (the thing)”) or has insinuated itself into (the thing).
- Examples
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He was the minority leader's political eyes and ears— nicknamed "the Electrician," due to all the intrigue and legislative shenanigans he was wired into.
More examples (2)
Like the fledgling scientist who tried to wire himself into the sisterly circle at Field Place, Prometheus joins the electric circuit formed by his "Fair sister nymphs," Panthea, Asia, ...
... and quite handy indeed that they also saw fit to wire themselves into the social problem that they had a major hand in creating in the first place. This almost blatant orchestration of social conflict is just a ladle in the soup of ...
I am wired into my work on a continuous basis. I think that I can shut it off, but in my heart I know I cannot
More examples (13)
RESTON MOVED QUICKLY to parlay his new prominence by wiring himself into high-level Washington sources, and not just Republicans like Vandenberg.
"When the island was initially green-lighted for casinos, Hu Dzem figured he was first in line, given the way he was wired into the gambling rackets in Hong Kong and on the mainland.
Working together with a highly-respected and well-connected gang leader like Lion reduces the risk of detection. Such men wire themselves into the happenings of the pen; they know who can pay how much, and they have finely tuned instincts for the rackets they control. The Nelsons work as a husband-and-wife team, which makes escaping detection easier.
Dealers saw the potential in him because he was wired into all the right social networks, and asked him to start selling pills for them.
The remainder of the Inn Crowd started to wire themselves into the session. Frank, who was almost always the first to get pissed, was practically gone already, delighted with his career and with his life and determined to drink […]
He is really wired into the world of hockey and connected to all facets of the sport. Jimmy is wired into the media as well.
Blair brought out the febrile intensity of Stanhope, wiring himself into his ever more circumscribed troglodyte world, speculating moodily on the worm that went down when it thought it was coming up. Robert Philp thought Blair's ...
A week, and most of it spent inside the compound, but already he's begun to wire himself into the environment, read its codes. The pecking order and the power struggles and the personalities. The fixers and the operators, ...
The same, obviously, cannot be said for Calipari, or Coach Cal as he's known by all those wired into the world of college basketball.
"In the changing room I'm not very relaxed, I get wired into it then and psyched up but I think it's important not to build the game up in your mind into something that it's not," he asserts.
Duke fans REALLY showed up in the noise department...The cheers may not have been overly varied, but the noise was consistent, and they were wired into every single play that occurred on the court.
He has always done this, having a good system for wiring himself in to the daily action and buzz of what's going on with clients and the business in general. He also has a pretty good nose for figuring out who the key influencers are, […]
All that determines the amount that livestock producers receive is the degree to which they wire themselves into the various sources that are available. However, the primary source is still the land-grant-university system.
To set or predetermine (someone's personality or behaviour, or an organization's culture) in a particular way.
Usage- Figurative
- passive
- usually
- Examples
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There's no use trying to get Sarah to be less excitable. That's just the way she's wired.
“‘Cept I do hurt people sometimes, Case. I guess it's just the way I'm wired.”
More examples (6)
PPT hypothesises that grammatical properties which are universal will not have to be learned by the child, since they are wired into the language faculty and hence part of the child's genetic endowment...
That voyage will be far more comfortable and may involve some sightseeing if internal marketing is wired into organizational culture and strategy rather than something that is done from time to time depending upon the economic cycle.
You make decisions innately; doing so is wired into how you behave.
Maternal instinct is wired into the brain.
If God wired her to be a corporate tycoon, Olympic champion, presidential hopeful, or Academy Award-winning actress, that's awesome. Come alongside her and cheer her on. But just as awesome is the idea that the plan for her life is far [simpler].
It's certainly wired into our language when we talk about, 'C'mon, be a man about it,' or 'Man up.'
To send a message or monetary funds to another person through a telecommunications system, formerly predominantly by telegraph.
Usage- Transitive or intransitive
- Examples
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Urgent: please wire me another 100 pounds sterling.
The detective wired ahead, hoping that the fugitive would be caught at the railway station.
More examples (3)
If the thing doesn't tempt you, say no more about it. If it does, just wire a time and I'll be at the station.
Philip wired a succinct affirmative, and next morning a stranger presented himself at the studio.
In "The Boscombe Valley Mystery," Sherlock Holmes telegraphs Watson: "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from the West of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. […]."
To make someone tense or psyched up. See also adjective wired.
Usage- Slang
- Examples
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Coffee late at night wires me good and proper.
To install eavesdropping equipment.
Usage- Slang
- Examples
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We wired the suspect's house.
To snare by means of a wire or wires.
To place (a ball) so that the wire of a wicket prevents a successful shot.
Usage- Transitive
Noun
ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
- Broader terms
a metal conductor that carries electricity over a distance
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
the finishing line on a racetrack
- Broader terms
a message transmitted by telegraph
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
Verb
provide with electrical circuits
- Examples
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wire the addition to the house
send cables, wires, or telegrams
- Broader terms
fasten with wire
- Antonyms
- Examples
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The columns were wired to the beams for support
string on a wire
- Examples
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wire beads
equip for use with electricity
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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electrify an appliance