windup

American  

[wahynd-uhp] / ˈwaɪndˌʌp /

Or wind-up

noun

1. the conclusion of any action, activity, etc.; the end or close.

2. a final act or part.

3. Baseball. the preparatory movements of the arm before pitching a ball.

4. Informal. a mechanical object, as a toy or wristwatch, that is driven by a spring or similar mechanism that must be wound.

5. an act or instance of winding up.

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Etymology

Origin of windup

First recorded in 1565–75; noun use of verb phrase wind up

Explanation

In baseball, the arm and body movements a pitcher makes just before throwing the ball are collectively called the windup. Sports announcers repeat this phrase throughout baseball games: "Here's the windup...and the pitch!" You can also use windup to mean "conclusion." At the windup of a lengthy meeting, everyone will collect their papers and laptops, and several people will yawn and stretch. The windup of a political campaign might include one last speech and a full-page ad in a newspaper, just before the election. This is the oldest meaning of windup, dating from the 16th century. As an adjective, windup can mean "operated by a mechanism," like a windup toy.

Example Sentences

To follow along all season, sign up for The Windup, an Athletic newsletter from Levi Weaver, Ken Rosenthal and others.

From New York Times • Mar. 30, 2023

And they’ll say, ‘Are you insane? What is this Windup Bird Chronicle? This is madness.’

From The Guardian • Apr. 14, 2020

Bacigalupi is best-known for books like The Windup Girl and The Water Knife, which have some pretty bleak portrayals of the future of our planet.

From The Verge • May 26, 2019

I’m also a big Paolo Bacigalupi fan, particularly his breakout novel The Windup Girl involving an artificial girl.

From Slate • Apr. 26, 2016

Bacigalupi, who writes for kids and adults in books such as "The Windup Girl" and "Shipbreaker," has won the Locus, Hugo, Nebula and YA Printz awards.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2015