ˈwaɪə n. & v. --n. 1 a
metal drawn out into the form of a
thread or
thin flexible rod. b a
piece of
this. c (attrib.)
made of wire. 2 a
length or
quantity of wire used
for fencing or to
carry an
electric current etc. 3
esp. US colloq. a
telegram or
cablegram. --v.tr. 1
provide,
fasten,
strengthen,
etc.,
with wire. 2 (often foll. by up) Electr.
install electrical circuits in (a
building, piece of
equipment, etc.). 3 esp. US colloq.
telegraph (wired me
that they were coming). 4
snare (an
animal etc.) with wire. 5 (usu. in passive)
Croquet obstruct (a ball, shot, or player) by a hoop. øby wire by telegraph.
get one's wires crossed
become confused
and misunderstood. wire
brush 1 a brush with
tough wire bristles for cleaning
hard surfaces, esp. metal. 2 a brush with wire strands brushed
against cymbals to
produce a
soft metallic sound. wire
cloth cloth
woven from wire. wire-cutter a
tool for
cutting wire. wire
gauge 1 a gauge for measuring the
diameter of wire etc. 2 a
standard series of sizes in
which wire etc. is made. wire
gauze a
stiff gauze woven from wire. wire
grass any of
various grasses with tough
wiry stems. wire-haired (esp. of a dog) having stiff or wiry
hair. wire
mattress a mattress supported by wires stretched in a
frame. wire
netting netting of wire twisted into meshes. wire
rope rope made by twisting wires
together as strands. wire-tapper a
person who indulges in wire-tapping. wire-tapping the
practice of tapping (see
TAP(1) v. 4) a
telephone or telegraph line to
eavesdrop. wire-walker an
acrobat performing feats on a wire rope. wire
wheel a vehicle-wheel with spokes of wire. wire
wool a mass of fine wire for cleaning. øøwirer n. [OE wir]
