wound

¹

[woond, wound]

noun

1. an injury, usually involving division of tissue or rupture of the integument or mucous membrane, due to external violence or some mechanical agency rather than disease.

   Synonyms: trauma, lesion, laceration, stab, cut

2. a similar injury to the tissue of a plant.

3. an injury or hurt to feelings, sensibilities, reputation, etc.

   Synonyms: anguish, pain, insult

verb (used with object)

1. to inflict a wound upon; injure; hurt.

   Synonyms: lacerate, stab, cut, damage, harm

verb (used without object)

1. to inflict a wound.

wound

²

[wound]

verb

1. a simple past tense and past participle of wind and wind.

wound

¹

/ wuːnd /

noun

1. any break in the skin or an organ or part as the result of violence or a surgical incision

2. an injury to plant tissue

3. any injury or slight to the feelings or reputation

verb

1. to inflict a wound or wounds upon (someone or something)

wound

²

/ waʊnd /

verb

1. the past tense and past participle of wind 2

Other Word Forms

• woundedly adverb
• woundingly adverb
• wounder noun
• woundless adjective
• woundable adjective
• wounding adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wound¹

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English wund; cognate with Old High German wunta ( German Wunde ), Old Norse und, Gothic wunds; (verb) Middle English wounden, Old English wundian, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wound¹

Old English wund; related to Old Frisian wunde, Old High German wunta (German Wunde ), Old Norse und, Gothic wunds

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. lick one's wounds, to attempt to heal one's injuries or soothe one's hurt feelings after a defeat.

see lick one's wounds; rub in (salt into a wound).

Synonym Study

See injury.

Example Sentences

PC Lawrence Meldrum said the female driver was bleeding from a head wound and seemed "confused and dazed".

Read more on BBC

Mr Villafane was found not guilty of one charge of wounding with intent.

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With a lump in his throat, Candy’s wounded character Del Griffith replies that he’s proud of who he is.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

At least 24 people were killed and 47 others wounded while protesting Myanmar's military government after a motorised paraglider dropped two bombs on the crowd, a spokesperson for the government-in-exile has told BBC Burmese.

Read more on BBC

Parentez said Martinez drove herself to a nearby auto shop, where employees used shop towels to stanch her wounds until paramedics arrived.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• bruise 
• cut 
• damage 
• grief 
• laceration 
• lesion 
• pain 
• shock 
• trauma