winder

American  

[wahyn-der] / ˈwaɪn dər /

noun

winders plural

1. a person or thing that winds.

2. a staircase step for changing direction.

3. a plant that coils or twines itself about something.

4. an instrument or a machine for winding thread or the like.

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winder British  

/ ˈwaɪndə /

noun

1. a person or device that winds, as an engine for hoisting the cages in a mine shaft or a device for winding the yarn in textile manufacture

2. an object, such as a bobbin, around which something is wound

3. a knob or key used to wind up a clock, watch, or similar mechanism

4. any plant that twists itself around a support

5. a step of a spiral staircase

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• winders
  plural

Etymology

Origin of winder

First recorded in 1545–55; wind ² + -er ¹

Example Sentences

If using a homemade winder,*** consider gluing or taping the string to the winder so that your string stays connected if you happen to use all of your string to fly the kite.

From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2026

Working nearby, winder Derrick Petty said he is still learning the quirks of the job after a year at Hitachi Energy and 14 years at another transformer factory.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 16, 2025

His father was a shawl weaver and his mother was a cotton winder.

From BBC • Nov. 30, 2024

The agency shared a photo of the moth with its large orange wings, winder than an outstretched hand shown for scale.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 18, 2022

But it’s awful cold when you just have a winder open to sweep, an’ I couldn’t stan’ bein’ out in it.”

From In Wild Rose Time by Douglas, Amanda M.