wire

/waɪə(ɹ)/

noun 5verb 5name 1

Collocations

(noun.) metal as thin thread

ADJ

trip, tripwire

The security system uses a hidden tripwire to detect intruders entering the building.

high

QUANT

length, piece, strand

VERB + WIRE

cut

The electrician carefully cut the old wiring before installing the new system.

stretch

They stretched the wire across the garden to hang the washing.

WIRE + NOUN

grill, mesh, netting

basket, brush, cage, coat hanger, fence, fencing, frame, rack

The rabbit lived in a wire cage in the backyard.

cutters, wire-cutters

PREP

behind a/the ~

The refugees waited anxiously behind the wire, hoping to be processed soon.

under a/the ~

She managed to submit her assignment under the wire, just before the deadline closed.

(noun.) for electricity

ADJ

electric, electrical, electricity

The electrician carefully replaced the old electric wires in our kitchen last month.

earth, live, neutral

The electrician carefully separated the earth wire from the live wire before starting the repair.

overhead | telegraph, telephone | fuse

bare, exposed

The electrician warned us about exposed wires in the old basement wall.

insulated, plastic-coated, plastic-covered | frayed

VERB + WIRE

attach, connect

I connected the red wire to the battery terminal before switching on the device.

disconnect

When the electrician disconnected the wires, the entire house lost power.

run

They ran wires through the walls before installing the new lighting system in the house.

WIRE + VERB

go, lead, run, trail

The electrical cables run along the wall and through the basement to power the workshop.

show

The electrical wires were showing through the old paint on the ceiling.

PREP

along a/the ~

Electricity travels along the wire to power the lights in your home.

down a/the ~

She heard her mother's voice coming down the wire from across the country.

(verb.)

ADV

correctly, properly

The electrician properly wired the new light fixture in our kitchen yesterday.

in, up

The technician wired in the new security cameras throughout the office building.

PREP

for

The new office building was wired for high-speed internet access throughout all floors.

into, to

The electrician connected all the speakers into a single control system.

Definitions

noun

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

From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much. Those entering it are greeted by wire fences, walls dating back to colonial times and security posts. For mariners leaving the port after lonely nights on the high seas, the delights of the B52 Night Club and Stallion Pub lie a stumble away.

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

A metal conductor that carries electricity.

That wire powers the lamp.

Time is running out, so I renounce a spin on a Class 387 for a fast run to Paddington on another Class 800 - a shame as the weather was perfect for pictures. Even so, it's enjoyable - boy, can those trains shift under the wires.

A fence made of usually barbed wire.

A finish line of a racetrack.

verb

To fasten with wire, especially with reference to wine bottles, corks, or fencing.

We need to wire that hole in the fence.

I could see him in his plane flying low over the river or a reservoir, dropping the club out with a chunk of lead wired to the shaft.

To string on a wire.

wire beads

To equip with wires for use with electricity.

Do you know how to wire a plug?

Replying on March 20 to a Commons Written Question from Alberto Costa (Conservative, South Leicestershire) about plans to wire to Leicester, Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: "We are currently investing in the biggest upgrade of the Midland Main Line since it was completed in 1870. [...]

To connect, embed, incorporate, or include (something) into (something else) by or as if by wires:

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

Assuming that all of the conference rooms are wired into the LAN, the sales representative would have to carry a cable to connect into any conference room that they visit, find the appropriate wall jack, and connect into the network.

To connect, embed, incorporate, or include (something) into (something else) by or as if by wires:

There is an enormous neurological consequence to mechanorecptor dysfunction, which is related to how these cells are wired into the spinal cord.

The distal tier of cells has a wider acceptance angle than the proximal tier and different neuronal wiring (distal photoreceptors are wired into the lamina, while proximal photoreceptors are wired into the medulla), as well as a different spectral receptor composition.

name

A surname.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — a message transmitted by telegraph

verb — equip for use with electricity

electrify

verb — send cables, wires, or telegrams

Antonyms

unwire

Idioms & Phrases

under the wire

Across the finish line.

Lying forward flattened along Sunfish's hard-muscled shoulders, Bud was gaining and gaining—one length, then two lengths as he shot under the wire, slowed and rode back to find a s

word on the wire

The rumour or news going around on the internet, in business, on the street, or in social circles.

down to the wire

At the very end of a process or project, especially one with a fast-approaching deadline.

He was almost done with the paper, but tomorrow's due date meant it would be down to the wire.

tickle the wire

To create a situation that will encourage the target of a criminal probe to speak and divulge information on a wiretapped telephone.

Example Bank

Holonyms: cable; wire rope; wiring harness; wire wool

Wiktionary

That wire powers the lamp.

Wiktionary

We need to wire that hole in the fence.

Wiktionary

I could see him in his plane flying low over the river or a reservoir, dropping the club out with a chunk of lead wired to the shaft.

Wiktionary

wire beads

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

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