winding
Americannoun
-
the act of a person or thing that winds.
-
a bend, turn, or flexure.
-
a coiling, folding, or wrapping, as of one thing about another.
-
something that is wound or coiled, or a single round of it.
-
Electricity.
-
a symmetrically laid, electrically conducting current path in any device.
-
the manner of such coiling.
a series winding.
-
adjective
-
bending or turning; sinuous.
-
spiral, as stairs.
noun
-
a curving or sinuous course or movement
-
anything that has been wound or wrapped around something
-
a particular manner or style in which something has been wound
-
a curve, bend, or complete turn in wound material, a road, etc
-
(often plural) devious thoughts or behaviour
the tortuous windings of political argumentation
-
one or more turns of wire forming a continuous coil through which an electric current can pass, as used in transformers, generators, etc
-
another name for wind 2
-
a coil of tubing in certain brass instruments, esp the French horn
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of winding
before 1050; Middle English (noun), Old English windung (noun); see wind 2, -ing 1, -ing 2
Explanation
Use the adjective winding to describe something with twists and turns, like a winding country road or a little winding mountain stream. A path through the woods that has plenty of bends and curves in it is winding, and a river that curls and meanders down to the sea is also winding. The Beatles song "The Long and Winding Road" describes a twisting, indirect road. Winding has an Old English root, the word windan, which means "to turn, twist, or wind."
Vocabulary lists containing winding
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Navigating the loss of a friend can be a long and winding journey.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
Having missed out on selection for last year's Women's Six Nations Grand Slam decider against France, Marlie Packer's remarkable international career may have seemed to some to be winding down.
From BBC • May 9, 2026
They can help with budgeting, bill-paying, tracking expenses, monitoring accounts, disputing an incorrect credit card charge, fighting an improper medical bill and helping with the winding down of an estate.
From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026
Stocks pulled back from yesterday’s records and oil prices settled around $100 a barrel with traders awaiting signs that the Middle East war is winding down.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
Her phone flashlight dies, but thankfully the storm sounds like it’s winding down.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
