Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

1 N‑VAR Winter is the season between autumn and spring when the weather is usually cold. □  In winter the nights are long and cold. □  Last winter's snowfall was heavier than usual. □  …the winter months. □ [+ of ] …the late winter of 1941.

2 VERB If an animal or plant winters somewhere or is wintered there, it spends the winter there. □ [V adv/prep] The birds will winter outside in an aviary. □ [be V -ed prep/adv] The young seedlings are usually wintered in a cold frame. □ [V -ing] …one of the most important sites for wintering wildfowl. [Also V n prep/adv]

3 VERB If you winter somewhere, you spend the winter there. [FORMAL ] □ [V prep/adv] The family decided to winter in Nice again.

wi n|ter sports N‑PLURAL Winter sports are sports that take place on ice or snow, for example skating and skiing.

winter|time /w I ntə ^r ta I m/ also winter time N‑UNCOUNT Wintertime is the period of time during which winter lasts.

win|try /w I ntri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Wintry weather is cold and has features that are typical of winter. □  Wintry weather continues to sweep across Britain. □  …a dark wintry day.

wi n-wi n ADJ [ADJ n] A win-win situation is one where you are certain to do well or be successful. □  This is a win-win scenario. ● N‑COUNT Win-win is also a noun. □  When meetings are more effective, we can have fewer of them. That's what I call a win-win.

wipe ◆◇◇ /wa I p/ (wipes , wiping , wiped )

1 VERB If you wipe something, you rub its surface to remove dirt or liquid from it. □ [V n] I'll just wipe the table. □ [V n with adj] When he had finished washing he began to wipe the basin clean. □ [V n + on ] Lainey wiped her hands on the towel. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Wipe is also a noun. □  She gave the table a quick wipe and disappeared behind the counter.

2 VERB If you wipe dirt or liquid from something, you remove it, for example by using a cloth or your hand. □ [V n prep] Gleb wiped the sweat from his face. □ [V n] He shook his head and wiped his tears with a tissue.

3 N‑COUNT A wipe is a small moist cloth for cleaning things and is designed to be used only once. □  …antiseptic wipes.

4to wipe the floor with someone → see floor

5to wipe the slate clean → see slate

▸  wipe away or wipe off PHRASAL VERB If you wipe away or wipe off dirt or liquid from something, you remove it, for example by using a cloth or your hand. □ [V P n] He wiped away the blood with a paper napkin.

▸  wipe off → see wipe away

▸  wipe out PHRASAL VERB To wipe out something such as a place or a group of people or animals means to destroy them completely. □ [V P n] The oil spill could wipe out the area's turtle population. □ [V P n] The man is a fanatic who is determined to wipe out any opposition. [Also V n P ]

▸  wipe up PHRASAL VERB If you wipe up dirt or liquid from something, you remove it using a cloth. □ [V n P ] I spilled my coffee all over the table and Mom leaned across me to wipe it up. □ [V P n] Wipe up spills immediately.

wip|er /wa I pə ^r / (wipers ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] A wiper is a device that wipes rain from a vehicle's windscreen.

wire ◆◇◇ /wa I ə ^r / (wires , wiring , wired )

1 N‑VAR A wire is a long thin piece of metal that is used to fasten things or to carry electric current. □  …fine copper wire. □  …gadgets which detect electrical wires, pipes and timbers in walls.