wind
wind
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling and Syllable Breakdown
The word "wind" has two distinct pronunciations and meanings.
Wind (moving air): /wɪnd/
Syllable 1:
/w/ - voiced labial-velar approximant
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/n/ - voiced alveolar nasal
/d/ - voiced alveolar plosive
Wind (to coil/turn): /waɪnd/
Syllable 1:
/w/ - voiced labial-velar approximant
/aɪ/ - diphthong, starting with an open front unrounded vowel and gliding towards a near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/n/ - voiced alveolar nasal
/d/ - voiced alveolar plosive
Word Form Variations
Noun (moving air):
Singular: wind
Plural: winds
Verb (to coil/turn):
Base form: wind
Third-person singular present: winds
Present participle: winding
Past tense: wound
Past participle: wound
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A natural movement of air of any speed, parallel to the ground, caused by differences in atmospheric pressure.
Example: The strong wind rattled the windowpanes.
Synonyms: breeze, gust, draft, current, gale, squall, zephyr
Antonyms: calm, stillness, quiet
Breath, especially when considered as a force or an exhalation.
Example: He had the wind knocked out of him when he fell.
Synonyms: breath, respiration, exhalation, gasp
Antonyms: inhalation (in this specific context of "having the wind knocked out")
Empty, boastful, or overly verbose talk.
Example: Don't pay attention to his bluster; it's all just wind.
Synonyms: bluster, hot air, prattle, chatter, nonsense
Antonyms: substance, truth, facts, silence
Verb
To turn or cause to turn around an axis or a central point; to coil or wrap something around something else.
Example: She began to wind the yarn into a ball.
Synonyms: coil, wrap, twist, furl, spool
Antonyms: uncoil, unwrap, unwind, unfurl
To move in a curving or spiral course.
Example: The river winds through the valley.
Synonyms: meander, curve, snake, twist, turn, zigzag
Antonyms: straighten, go direct, run parallel
To operate or power something by turning a handle or key, especially a clock or toy.
Example: He forgot to wind his watch this morning.
Synonyms: crank, turn, key
Antonyms: run down, stop (in the context of operation)
To cause someone to become breathless or exhausted.
Example: The steep climb really wound him.
Synonyms: exhaust, tire, fatigue, wear out, debilitate
Antonyms: invigorate, refresh, energize, revive
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents—except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (with an answering howl from the more exposed corners of the house) and rattled along the housetops." (Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, October 1847)
"The wind in the willows played a little tune, and a small, brown field-mouse crept out of its hole and sat up on its hind legs to listen." (Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows, October 1908)
Newspapers:
"Strong winds are expected across the region today, with gusts potentially reaching 60 mph in exposed areas." (As reported by The National Weather Service in various local news outlets, November 2024)
"The local economy continues to wind down as several factories announce closures." (Reported in The New York Times, February 2025)
Online Publications:
"How to Wind Up Your Grandfather Clock: A Step-by-Step Guide" (From a horology enthusiast blog, "Timepiece Treasures," August 2024)
"Offshore wind farms are gaining traction as a key component of sustainable energy initiatives." (From Renewable Energy World, January 2025)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In the film Gone With the Wind, the title itself evokes a sense of sweeping change and loss, with "wind" representing the passage of time and the end of an era. (Released December 1939)
Music: The song "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas features lyrics like "All we are is dust in the wind," using "wind" to symbolize transience and the fleeting nature of life. (Released January 1978)
Video Games: In games like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, the wind is a central gameplay mechanic, allowing the player to control their boat and navigate the vast ocean. (Released December 2002)
Television: A common phrase heard on weather reports, "We're seeing sustained winds of 20 miles per hour, with gusts up to 35." (Various news broadcasts, ongoing)
General Public Discourse:
"I heard they're going to wind up the project by the end of next month." (Heard in a business meeting, March 2025)
"Don't let him get your wind up; he's just trying to provoke you." (Common idiom, ongoing)
"The team really needs to get the wind in their sails if they want to win this game." (Heard at a sporting event, October 2024)
"I had to wind down after a really stressful day at work." (Common expression, ongoing)
10 Quotes Using Wind
"A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner." (English Proverb) - This proverb is often completed with "...nor calm wind a strong ship."
"The wind of change blows through the world, and we must either adapt to it or be swept away." (Harold Macmillan, February 1960)
"Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one." (Bruce Lee) - Often quoted in conjunction with, "It's not the wind that blows, it's the sail that sets the course."
"God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb." (Laurence Sterne, A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy, February 1768)
"Like a great wind, the spirit of democracy is blowing across the entire world." (Nelson Mandela, May 1994)
"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change." (Often attributed to Leon C. Megginson, summarizing Charles Darwin) - A common variant includes: "It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. When the wind changes, there are those who build walls and those who build windmills."
"We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend." (Robert Louis Stevenson) - This quote is sometimes paired with: "The true measure of a man is not how he behaves in moments of comfort and convenience, but how he stands at times of controversy and challenge... and the wind will blow them away like chaff."
"Man can not discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore." (André Gide) - Often extended with: "No ship can sail the seas unless it feels the wind of change."
"The wind whistles through the barren trees." (From the poem "Winter" by William Shakespeare, though the exact phrasing varies slightly across versions)
"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8, ESV)
Etymology
The word "wind" actually has two main origins in English, reflecting its two main pronunciations and meanings.
"Wind" as in moving air (/wɪnd/):
This meaning of "wind" goes way back in time. It comes from the Old English word "wind," which meant exactly what it does today: "air in motion."
If we go even further back, this Old English word came from a much older language called Proto-Germanic, where it was windaz. This ancient root also gave rise to similar words for "wind" in other Germanic languages like German (Wind) and Dutch (wind).
The ultimate ancestor is an even older language called Proto-Indo-European (PIE). The root word here was likely h₂weh₁-, meaning "to blow" or "to breathe." So, the idea of "wind" as something that "blows" has been around for a very, very long time, even before English as we know it existed. The first known use in English, with this meaning, dates back to the Old English period (before 1150 AD)."Wind" as in to coil or turn (/waɪnd/):
This "wind" also comes from Old English, specifically the verb "windan." This verb meant "to turn, twist, plait, or curl."
This "windan" also traces back to Proto-Germanic, to a root word like windan, which had a similar meaning of "to turn" or "to wind." This root is also connected to words like "wander" and "wend."
So, while both meanings of "wind" are very old and come from ancient roots, they branched off from different (though related) ancient ideas: one about blowing air and the other about twisting or turning.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Wind
Against the wind: Going against the prevailing trend or opinion; facing difficulty.
Break wind: To pass gas from the anus; to fart.
Catch wind of: To hear a rumor or gain information about something that was intended to be secret.
Get the wind up: To become afraid or anxious.
Gone with the wind: Lost forever; disappeared completely.
In the wind: Disappeared or vanished; also, something that is being discussed or speculated about but not yet confirmed.
Know which way the wind blows: To be aware of the current situation or prevailing opinion.
Long-winded: Speaking or writing at excessive length; tedious.
Put the wind up: To make someone afraid or nervous.
Sail close to the wind: To act in a way that is on the verge of being improper or dangerous.
Second wind: A new burst of energy or strength after a period of exhaustion.
Take the wind out of someone's sails: To cause someone to lose their confidence or advantage.
To wind down: To relax after a period of activity or stress; to gradually come to an end.
To wind up: To bring something to an end; to tighten a spring mechanism (like in a clock); to deliberately annoy or tease someone.
Whistle in the wind: To make a futile effort; to do something pointless.
Wind of change: Forces that are bringing about significant changes.
Wind someone up: To tease or annoy someone.
Windfall: An unexpected sum of money or other valuable gain.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of wind from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
