winding

[wahyn-ding]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that winds.

2. a bend, turn, or flexure.

3. a coiling, folding, or wrapping, as of one thing about another.

4. something that is wound or coiled, or a single round of it.

5. Electricity.

   1. a symmetrically laid, electrically conducting current path in any device.

   2. the manner of such coiling.

      a series winding.

adjective

1. bending or turning; sinuous.

2. spiral, as stairs.

winding

/ ˈwaɪndɪŋ /

noun

1. a curving or sinuous course or movement

2. anything that has been wound or wrapped around something

3. a particular manner or style in which something has been wound

4. a curve, bend, or complete turn in wound material, a road, etc

5. (often plural) devious thoughts or behaviour

   the tortuous windings of political argumentation

6. one or more turns of wire forming a continuous coil through which an electric current can pass, as used in transformers, generators, etc

7. another name for wind 2

8. a coil of tubing in certain brass instruments, esp the French horn

adjective

1. curving; sinuous

   a winding road

Other Word Forms

• windingly adverb
• windingness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of winding¹

before 1050; Middle English (noun), Old English windung (noun); wind ², -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

As he sat down to face questions from the feds, his sentences traveled winding paths through vague precincts to fog-filled destinations.

From Los Angeles Times

Lady Cameron confirmed on social media that she was winding down Cefinn after eight years, saying "international trading restrictions" had also harmed the business.

From BBC

Now 35, he talks as if he wants to continue fighting for another five to ten years, but the signs suggest he is winding down.

From BBC

Kent has already started winding down some courses to reduce costs as it posted a deficit for another year in 2024.

From BBC

As part of the winding up process, these so-called beneficiaries will vote on whether to expand the group of potential recipients.

From BBC

Related Words

• bending www.thesaurus.com
• curving www.thesaurus.com
• meandering 
• serpentine 
• sinuous 
• snaking www.thesaurus.com
• tortuous 
• turning 
• twisting 
• twisty 
• windy 
• zigzag