wire
/ˈwaɪɚ/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.43 in modern English
7
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Metal formed into a thin, even thread, now usually by being drawn through a hole in a steel die.
Uncountable
noun
A hidden listening device on the person of an undercover operative for the purposes of obtaining incriminating spoken evidence.
Countable; Slang; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "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."
- "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."
- "The episode began by a telephone ring in the morning and the voice of Algernon Mailey at the far end of the wire."
- "Another letter. "Friedrichswerks, Hamburg, Germany. We beg to acknowledge receipt of order for fifteen thousand Robots." [Telephone rings.] Hello! This is the Central Office. Yes. Certainly. Well, send them a wire. Good. [Hangs up telephone.] Where did I leave off?"
Etymology
From Middle English wir, wyr, from Old English wīr (“wire, metal thread, wire-ornament”), from Proto-Germanic *wīraz (“wire”), from Proto-Indo-European *weh₁iros (“a twist, thread, cord, wire”), from *weh₁y- (“to turn, twist, weave, plait”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈwaɪɚ/
- British English: /waɪə(ɹ)/