Word for the day: winding

winding |ˈwaɪn.dɪŋ|                                        *sinuoso (en Español) DEFINITIONnouna twisting movement or course: the windings of the stream.• an electrical conductor that is wound around a magnetic material, esp. one encircling part of the stator or rotor of an electric motor or generator or forming part of a transformer.• a thing that winds or is wound around something.
adjectivefollowing a twisting or spiral course: our bedroom was at the top of a winding staircase.

wind  |wīnd|verb ( past and past participle wound |wound| )1 [ no obj. ] move in or take a twisting or spiral course: the path wound among olive trees.2 [ with obj. ] pass (something) around a thing or person so as to encircle or enfold: he wound a towel around his midriff.• repeatedly twist or coil (a length of something) around itself or a core: Anne wound the wool into a ball.• [ no obj. ] be repeatedly twisted or coiled: large vines wound around every tree.• wrap or surround (a core) with a coiled length of something: devices wound with copper wire.3 [ with obj. ] make (a clock or other device, typically one operated by clockwork) operate by turning a key or handle: he wound up the clock every Saturday night | she was winding the gramophone.• turn (a key or handle) repeatedly around and around: I wound the handle as fast as I could.• cause (an audio or videotape or a film) to move back or forward to a desired point: wind your tape back and listen to make sure everything is okay.• hoist or draw (something) with a windlass, winch, or similar device.
noun |waɪnd|1 a twist or turn in a course.2 a single turn made when winding.
PHRASAL VERBSwind down(of a mechanism, esp. one operated by clockwork) gradually lose power. • informal (of a person) relax after stress or excitement. • (also wind something down) draw or bring gradually to a close: business began to wind down as people awaited the new regime.wind upinformal 1 arrive or end up in a specified state, situation, or place: Kevin winds up in New York. 2another way of saying wind something up: he wound up by attacking Nonconformists. 3 Baseball(of a pitcher) use the windup delivery.wind someone up1 (usu. be wound up) make tense or angry: he was clearly wound up and frantic about hisdaughter. 2 Brit. informal tease or irritate someone: she's only winding me up.wind something up1 arrange the affairs of and dissolve a company: the company has since been wound up. 2gradually or finally bring an activity to a conclusion: the experiments had to be wound up because the funding stopped.3 informal increase the tension, intensity, or power of something: he wound up the engine.
ORIGIN Old English windan‘go rapidly,’‘twine,’ of Germanic origin; related to wander and wend.

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