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wire

noun verb

Metal formed into a thin, even thread, now usually by being drawn through a hole in a steel die.

Quick reference

Word Facts

Word length
4
Starts with
W
Ends with
E
Contains
IR
Scrabble score
7
Database source
OEWN 2025 Core

How it sounds

Pronunciation

/waɪə(ɹ)/ /ˈwaɪɚ/

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Audio Pronunciation

Meaning

Definitions

noun

  1. Metal formed into a thin, even thread, now usually by being drawn through a hole in a steel die.

  2. A piece of such material; a thread or slender rod of metal, a cable.

  3. A metal conductor that carries electricity.

  4. A fence made of usually barbed wire.

  5. A finish line of a racetrack.

  6. A telecommunication wire or cable

  7. (by extension) An electric telegraph; a telegram.

  8. A hidden listening device on the person of an undercover operative for the purposes of obtaining incriminating spoken evidence.

  9. A deadline or critical endpoint.

    “This election is going to go right to the wire”

  10. A wire strung with beads and hung horizontally above or near the table which is used to keep score.

  11. (usually in the plural) 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. (thieves' slang) A pickpocket who targets women.

  13. A covert signal sent between people cheating in a card game.

  14. A knitting needle.

  15. The slender shaft of the plumage of certain birds.

verb

  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?”

  4. To add something into an electrical system by means of wiring; to incorporate or include something.

    “I'll just wire your camera to the computer screen.”

  5. (usually passive) To fix or predetermine (someone's personality or behaviour) in a particular way.

    “There's no use trying to get Sarah to be less excitable. That's just the way she's wired.”

  6. To send a message or monetary funds to another person through a telecommunications system, formerly predominantly by telegraph.

    “The detective wired ahead, hoping that the fugitive would be caught at the railway station.”

  7. To make someone tense or psyched up. See also adjective wired.

    “Coffee late at night wires me good and proper.”

  8. To install eavesdropping equipment.

    “We wired the suspect's house.”

  9. To snare by means of a wire or wires.

  10. To place (a ball) so that the wire of a wicket prevents a successful shot.

In context

Example Sentences

This election is going to go right to the wire
to pull the wires for office
We need to wire that hole in the fence.
wire beads
Do you know how to wire a plug?
I'll just wire your camera to the computer screen.
There's no use trying to get Sarah to be less excitable. That's just the way she's wired.
The detective wired ahead, hoping that the fugitive would be caught at the railway station.
Coffee late at night wires me good and proper.
We wired the suspect's house.

Similar words

Synonyms

Opposite words

Antonyms

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