wire

noun wires

1. uncountable Metal formed into a thin, even thread, now usually by being drawn through a hole in a steel die. Holonyms: cable; wire rope; wiring harness; wire wool

   Similar: cable, steel wire, thread

2. countable, uncountable A piece of such material; a thread or slender rod of metal, a cable.
3. countable, uncountable A metal conductor that carries electricity. That wire powers the lamp.

   Similar: conducting wire

4. countable, uncountable A fence made of usually barbed wire.

   Similar: barbed wire

5. countable, uncountable A finish line of a racetrack.
6. countable, informal, uncountable A telecommunication wire or cable. The episode began by a telephone ring in the morning and the voice of Algernon Mailey at the far end of the wire.
7. broadly, countable, uncountable An electric telegraph; a telegram. 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?

   Similar: telegraph, telegram

8. countable, slang, uncountable A hidden listening device on the person of an undercover operative for the purposes of obtaining incriminating spoken evidence.
9. countable, informal, uncountable A deadline or critical endpoint. This election is going to go right to the wire
10. countable, uncountable A wire strung with beads and hung horizontally above or near the table which is used to keep score.
11. countable, plural normally, 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. to pull the wires for office
12. archaic, countable, uncountable A pickpocket, especially one who targets women.
13. countable, slang, uncountable A covert signal sent between people cheating in a card game.
14. Scotland, countable, uncountable A knitting needle.
15. countable, uncountable A long, filamenteous, ornamental feather. 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.
16. abbreviation, clipping, countable, informal, uncountable Clipping of wire service and/or newswire Breaking news reports have just come in to us over the wire.

Similar: score string

verb wires · wiring · wired

1. To fasten with wire, especially with reference to wine bottles, corks, or fencing. We need to wire that hole in the fence.
2. To string on a wire. wire beads
3. To equip with wires for use with electricity. Do you know how to wire a plug?

   Similar: electrify

4. To add (something) into a system (especially an electrical system) by means of wiring. I'll just wire your camera to the computer screen.
5. To add or connect (something) into a system as if with wires (for example, with nerves). There is an enormous neurological consequence to mechanorecptor dysfunction, which is related to how these cells are wired into the spinal cord.
6. 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). 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.
7. figuratively, passive, usually To set or predetermine (someone's personality or behaviour, or an organization's culture) in a particular way. There's no use trying to get Sarah to be less excitable. That's just the way she's wired.
8. ambitransitive To send a message or monetary funds to another person through a telecommunications system, formerly predominantly by telegraph. Urgent: please wire me another 100 pounds sterling.

   Similar: cable

9. slang To make someone tense or psyched up. See also adjective wired. Coffee late at night wires me good and proper.
10. slang To install eavesdropping equipment. We wired the suspect's house.
11. To snare by means of a wire or wires.
12. transitive To place (a ball) so that the wire of a wicket prevents a successful shot.

Similar: telegraph · Opposite: unwire

proper noun Wires

1. A surname.