Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

3 VERB If you wrestle a person or thing somewhere, you move them there using a lot of force, for example by twisting a part of someone's body into a painful position. □ [V n prep] We had to physically wrestle the child from the man's arms.

4 → see also wrestling

wres|tler /re slə ^r / (wrestlers ) N‑COUNT A wrestler is someone who wrestles as a sport, usually for money.

wres|tling /re sl I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Wrestling is a sport in which two people wrestle and try to throw each other to the ground. □  …a championship wrestling match.

wretch /re tʃ/ (wretches )

1 N‑COUNT You can refer to someone as a wretch when you feel sorry for them because they are unhappy or unfortunate. [LITERARY ] □  Before the poor wretch had time to speak, he was shot.

2 N‑COUNT You can refer to someone as a wretch when you think that they are wicked or if they have done something you are angry about. [LITERARY , DISAPPROVAL ] □  Oh, what have you done, you wretch!

wretch|ed /re tʃ I d/

1 ADJ You describe someone as wretched when you feel sorry for them because they are in an unpleasant situation or have suffered unpleasant experiences. [FORMAL ] □  These wretched people had seen their homes going up in flames.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use wretched to describe someone or something that you dislike or feel angry with. [INFORMAL , FEELINGS ] □  Of course this wretched woman was unforgivably irresponsible.

3 ADJ Someone who feels wretched feels very unhappy. [FORMAL ] □  I feel really confused and wretched.

wrig|gle /r I g ^ə l/ (wriggles , wriggling , wriggled )

1 VERB If you wriggle or wriggle part of your body, you twist and turn with quick movements, for example because you are uncomfortable. □ [V ] The babies are wriggling on their tummies. □ [V n] She pulled off her shoes and stockings and wriggled her toes.

2 VERB If you wriggle somewhere, for example through a small gap, you move there by twisting and turning your body. □ [V adv/prep] He clutched the child tightly as she again tried to wriggle free. □ [V adv/prep] Bauman wriggled into the damp coverall.

▸  wriggle out of PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone has wriggled out of doing something, you disapprove of the fact that they have managed to avoid doing it, although they should have done it. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V P P n] The Government has tried to wriggle out of any responsibility for providing childcare for working parents. [Also V P P v-ing]

wring /r I ŋ/ (wrings , wringing , wrung )

1 VERB If you wring something out of someone, you manage to make them give it to you even though they do not want to. □ [V n + out of/from ] Buyers use different ruses to wring free credit out of their suppliers.

2 PHRASE If someone wrings their hands , they hold them together and twist and turn them, usually because they are very worried or upset about something. You can also say that someone is wringing their hands when they are expressing sorrow that a situation is so bad but are saying that they are unable to change it. □  The Government has got to get a grip. Wringing its hands and saying it is a world problem just isn't good enough.

▸  wring out PHRASAL VERB When you wring out a wet cloth or a wet piece of clothing, you squeeze the water out of it by twisting it strongly. □ [V P n] He turned away to wring out the wet shirt. □ [V n P ] Soak a small towel in the liquid, wring it out, then apply to the abdomen.

wring|er /r I ŋə ^r / PHRASE If you say that someone has been put through the wringer or has gone through the wringer , you mean that they have suffered a very difficult or unpleasant experience. [INFORMAL ]

wrin|kle /r I ŋk ^ə l/ (wrinkles , wrinkling , wrinkled )