wire
Pronunciation: (wīr), [key]
— n., adj., v., wired, wir•ing.
—n.
- a slender, stringlike piece or filament of relatively rigid or flexible metal, usually circular in section, manufactured in a great variety of diameters and metals depending on its application.
- such pieces as a material.
- a length of such material, consisting either of a single filament or of several filaments woven or twisted together and usually insulated with a dielectric material, used as a conductor of electricity.
- a cross wire or a cross hair.
- a barbed-wire fence.
- a long wire or cable used in cable, telegraph, or telephone systems.
- a wire rope.
- to send a message by wire.
- a telegram.
- the telegraphic system:to send a message by wire.
- a system of wires by which puppets are moved.
- a metallic string of a musical instrument.
- the member of a pickpocket team who picks the victim's pocket. Cf. (def. 5).
- a wire stretched across and above the track at the finish line, under which the horses pass.
- one of the extremely long, slender, wirelike filaments or shafts of the plumage of various birds.
- a metal device for snaring rabbits and other small game.
- the woven wire mesh over which the wet pulp is spread in a papermaking machine.
- to the very last moment or the very end, as in a race or competition: The candidates campaigned down to the wire.
- to use one's position or influence to obtain a desired result: to pull wires to get someone a job.
- the telephone: There's someone on the wire for you.
- just within the limit or deadline; scarcely; barely: to get an application in under the wire.
—adj.
- made of wire; consisting of or constructed with wires.
- resembling wire; wirelike.
—v.t.
- to furnish with wires.
- to install an electric system of wiring in, as for lighting.
- to fasten or bind with wire: He wired the halves together.
- to put on a wire, as beads.
- to send by telegraph, as a message: Please wire the money at once.
- to send a telegraphic message to: She wired him to come at once.
- to snare by means of a wire.
- to equip with a hidden electronic device, as an eavesdropping device or an explosive.
- to connect (a receiver, area, or building) to a television cable and other equipment so that cable television programs may be received.
- to be closely connected or involved with: a law firm wired into political circles.
- to prepare, equip, fix, or arrange to suit needs or goals: The sales force was wired for an all-out effort.
- to block (a ball) by placing it behind the wire of an arch.
—v.i.
- to send a telegraphic message; telegraph: Don't write; wire.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.