Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

wi ne glass (wine glasses ) N‑COUNT A wine glass is a glass, usually with a narrow stem, which you use for drinking wine.

win|ery /wa I nəri/ (wineries ) N‑COUNT A winery is a place where wine is made. [AM ]

wing ◆◆◇ /w I ŋ/ (wings )

1 N‑COUNT The wings of a bird or insect are the two parts of its body that it uses for flying. □  The bird flapped its wings furiously. ●  -winged COMB □  …black-winged birds.

2 N‑COUNT The wings of an aeroplane are the long flat parts sticking out of its side which support it while it is flying. ●  -winged COMB □  …a wide-winged plane.

3 N‑COUNT A wing of a building is a part of it which sticks out from the main part. □  We were given an office in the empty west wing.

4 N‑COUNT A wing of an organization, especially a political organization, is a group within it which has a particular function or particular beliefs. □  The military wing of the organisation was banned.

5 → see also left-wing , right-wing

6 N‑PLURAL In a theatre, the wings are the sides of the stage which are hidden from the audience by curtains or scenery. □  Most nights I watched the start of the play from the wings.

7 N‑COUNT In a game such as football or hockey, the left wing and the right wing are the areas on the far left and the far right of the pitch. You can also refer to the players who play in these positions as the left wing and the right wing .

8 N‑COUNT A wing of a car is a part of it on the outside which is over one of the wheels. [BRIT ] in AM, use fender 9 VERB If you say that something or someone wings their way somewhere or wings somewhere, you mean that they go there quickly, especially by plane. □ [V n adv/prep] A few moments later they were airborne and winging their way south. □ [V n adv/prep] A cash bonanza will be winging its way to the 600,000 members of the scheme. □ [V adv/prep] The first of the airliners winged westwards and home.

10 PHRASE If you say that someone is waiting in the wings , you mean that they are ready and waiting for an opportunity to take action. □  There are big companies waiting in the wings to take over its business.

11 PHRASE If you spread your wings , you do something new and rather difficult or move to a new place, because you feel more confident in your abilities than you used to and you want to gain wider experience. □  I led a very confined life in my village so I suppose that I wanted to spread my wings.

12 PHRASE If you take someone under your wing , you look after them, help them, and protect them. □  Her boss took her under his wing after fully realising her potential.

wi ng back (wing backs ) also wing-back N‑COUNT In football, a wing back is a defender who also takes part in attacking play.

wi ng com|ma nd|er (wing commanders ) N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE A wing commander is a senior officer in the British air force. □  …Wing Commander Christopher Moran.

winged /w I ŋd/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A winged insect or other creature has wings. □  Flycatchers feed primarily on winged insects.

wing|er /w I ŋə ^r / (wingers ) N‑COUNT In a game such as football or hockey, a winger is an attacking player who plays mainly on the far left or the far right side of the pitch.

wi ng mir|ror (wing mirrors ) N‑COUNT The wing mirrors on a car are the mirrors on each side of the car on the outside.

wing|span /w I ŋspæn/ (wingspans ) also wing span N‑COUNT [usu sing] The wingspan of a bird, insect, or aeroplane is the distance from the end of one wing to the end of the other wing. □  …a glider with an 18-foot wingspan.

wink /w I ŋk/ (winks , winking , winked )

1 VERB When you wink at someone, you look towards them and close one eye very briefly, usually as a signal that something is a joke or a secret. □ [V + at ] Brian winked at his bride-to-be. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Wink is also a noun. □  I gave her a wink.