\ ˈwī(-ə)r
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Definition of wire
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: metal in the form of a usually very flexible thread or slender rod
b
: a thread or rod of such material
2a
: wirework
b
: the meshwork of parallel or woven wire on which the wet web of paper forms
3
: something (such as a thin plant stem) that is wirelike
4 wires plural
a
: a system of wires used to operate the puppets in a puppet show
b
: hidden influences controlling the action of a person or organization
6
: fencing or a fence of usually barbed wire
7a
: the finish line of a race
b
: the final decisive moment (as of a contest)
the negotiations came down to the wire
8
: wirehair
under the wire
wire to wire
or from wire to wire
1
: at the finish line
2
: at the last moment
: from start to finish
led the race wire to wire
wire
verb
wired;
wiring
Definition of wire (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to provide with wire : use wire on for a specific purpose
2
: to send or send word to by telegraph
3
: to connect by or as if by a wire
4
: to predispose, determine, or establish genetically or innately
controversy over the extent to which human violence is wired biologically
: to send a telegraphic message
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Other Words from wire
Noun
wirelike
\ ˈwī(-ə)r-ˌlīk
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adjective
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adjective
Verb
wirer
\ ˈwī(-ə)r-ər
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noun
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noun
Synonyms for wire
Synonyms: Noun
cable, cord, lace, lacing, line, rope, string
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Examples of wire in a Sentence
Noun
The flowers were bound together with thin wire. There was a wire sticking out of the chair. A telephone wire had fallen on the road during the storm. A short black wire connects the computer's monitor to its keyboard. The undercover officer wore a wire to her meeting with the drug dealer.Verb
The house will be wired next week. My room is wired for cable. The microphone is wired to the speaker. You can wire the generator to a car battery. Her jaw was wired shut after the accident. She wired the money home to Canada. Can you wire me $300? When you get in to town, wire me.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Each ingredient was suspended above the flames by wires cut to a precise length to control for cooking time and temperature. — CBS News, "The Dish: Open fire cooking icon Francis Mallmann," 31 Aug. 2019 With good waiver wire management and a little luck on the injury front, this team could be a contender. — Si Fantasy Staff, SI.com, "Fantasy Football 2019: Auction League Mock Draft," 30 Aug. 2019 The Patriots will receive a sixth- and seventh-round draft pick in 2020 from the Broncos, according to the league’s transaction wire. — Nora Princiotti, BostonGlobe.com, "Patriots begin shaping roster by trading Duke Dawson, acquiring center Russell Bodine," 30 Aug. 2019 The back end of the roster will be tweaked further, as their first spot on the waiver wire allows them to scoop up players who were on the bubble for other teams. — Katherine Fitzgerald, azcentral, "Kliff Kingsbury empathetic as Arizona Cardinals begin grueling process of cutting players," 30 Aug. 2019 Those wires are typically metal alloys coated in polymers. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "‘Robotic Worm’ Could Be the Future of Stroke Care," 30 Aug. 2019 In 2011 parliament made MTI’s wire-service free, driving competing news agencies out of business. — The Economist, "How Viktor Orban hollowed out Hungary’s democracy," 29 Aug. 2019 Comment: The Broncos would be smart to look at the waiver wire offensive tackles since Wilkinson will need to continue working at right guard as long as Leary’s knee keeps on barking. — Ryan O'halloran, The Denver Post, "Who stays, who goes? Final projection for Broncos 53-man roster," 29 Aug. 2019 The the wires for the lighting then are plugged into the transformer. — Richard A. Marini, ExpressNews.com, "How outdoor lighting can make your yard an inviting living space," 29 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
After the son was admitted in March 2016, Flaxman wired $250,000 to The Key’s charitable foundation. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Internal investigation finds admissions scandal at USD limited to one coach," 29 Aug. 2019 Between 2009 and 2010, the indictment alleges, Sebesta wired more than $3 million in church funds to his personal tax accounts to generate overpayment refunds to himself. — Julia Sclafani, Daily Pilot, "Huntington Beach man, a former church chairman, charged with stealing $11.4 million from church assets," 27 Aug. 2019 According to the indictment, Sebesta wired $1.86 million and $309,622 in church money toward his own personal tax accounts in 2009 and 2010. — Colleen Shalby, Los Angeles Times, "Former church chairman indicted in theft of $11.5 million in church money," 26 Aug. 2019 A few days later, Cheung wired Pata the money, plus his usual $4,000 fee. — Justin Rohrlich, Quartz, "Undercover sting takes down international endangered turtle smuggler," 12 Aug. 2019 They could be wired to the brakes instead of the gas. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "New legislation is putting social networks in the crosshairs," 1 Aug. 2019 Thirty years have passed since our first encounter, and he is still wired to please. — Ariel Leve, New York Times, "Bright Lights? Dimmer. Big City? More Distant.," 17 July 2019 The records Walls did leave behind revealed that in the months following his electoral loss, he was wired tens of thousands of dollars from the sheriff’s office’s general fund, and more than $30,000 was missing from its commissary fund. — Connor Sheets, ProPublica, "Wasted Funds, Destroyed Property: How Sheriffs Undermined Their Successors After Losing Reelection," 12 June 2019 Tired-but-wired campaign aides shuffled into the bar for a nightcap. — Washington Post, "‘Why do you look so familiar?’: In Detroit, presidential wannabes try to make themselves worth recognizing," 1 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wire.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.