either of the two forelimbs of most birds and of bats, corresponding to the human arms, that are specialized for flight.
either of two corresponding parts in flightless birds, which may be rudimentary, as in certain ratite birds, or adapted for swimming, as in penguins.
one of the paired, thin, lateral extensions of the body wall of an insect, located on the mesothorax and the metathorax, by means of which it flies.
a similar structure with which gods, angels, demons, etc., are conceived to be provided for the purpose of flying.
Slang. an arm of a human being, especially a baseball player's pitching or throwing arm.
a means or instrument of flight, travel, or progress.
the act or manner of flying.
something resembling or likened to a bird's wing, as a vane or sail of a windmill.
Aeronautics.
one of a pair of airfoils attached transversely to the fuselage of an aircraft and providing lift.
both airfoils, taken collectively.
Architecture. a part of a building projecting on one side of, or subordinate to, a central or main part.
Furniture. either of two forward extensions of the sides of the back of an easy chair.
either of the two side portions of an army or fleet, usually called right wing and left wing, and distinguished from the center; flank units.
an administrative and tactical unit of the U.S. Air Force consisting of two or more groups, headquarters, and certain supporting and service units.
(in flight formation) noting a position to the side and just to the rear of another airplane.
Fortification. either of the longer sides of a crownwork, uniting it to the main work.
Sports. (in some team games) any one of the positions, or a player in such a position, on the far side of the center position, known as the left and right wings with reference to the direction of the opposite goal.
Theater.
the platform or space on the right or left of the stage proper.
one of the two side petals of a papilionaceous flower.
either of the parts of a double door, screen, etc.
the feather of an arrow.
a faction within a political party, as at one extreme or the other: conflict between the right wing and the left wing.
Nautical. one of the far side areas of the hold of a merchant vessel.
British. a fender of an automobile, truck, bicycle, or other vehicle.
verb (used with object)
to equip with wings.
to enable to fly, move rapidly, etc.; lend speed or celerity to.
to supply with a winglike part, a side structure, etc.
to transport on or as on wings.
to perform or accomplish by wings.
to traverse in flight.
to wound or disable in the wing: to wing a bird.
to wound (a person) in an arm or other nonvital part.
to bring down (as a flying bird) by a shot.
Informal. to throw; lob: He winged a ball through the neighbor's window.
to brush or clean with a wing.
Theater. to perform (a part, role, etc.) relying on prompters in the wings.
verb (used without object)
to travel on or as if on wings; fly; soar: They are winging to the coast.
Idioms
on the wing,
in flight, or flying: a bird on the wing.
in motion; traveling; active: Scouts are on the wing in search of a new talent.
take wing,
to begin to fly; take to the air.
to leave in haste; depart: Our resolutions to economize swiftly took wing.
under one's wing, under one's protection, care, or patronage: She took the orphan under her wing.
wing it, Informal. to accomplish or execute something without sufficient preparation or experience; improvise: He had no time to study, so he had to wing it.
Origin of wing
1125–75;Middle Englishwenge (plural noun) < Old Danishwingæ; compare Norwegian,Swedishvinge,Old Norsevǣngr
late 12c., wenge, from Old Norse vængr "wing of a bird, aisle, etc." (cf. Danish and Swedish vinge "wing"), of unknown origin, perhaps from a Proto-Germanic *we-ingjaz and ultimately from PIE root *we- "blow" (cf. Old English wawan "to blow;" see wind (n.)). Replaced Old English feðra (plural) "wings" (see feather). The meaning "either of two divisions of a political party, army, etc." is first recorded c.1400; theatrical sense is from 1790.
Verbal phrase wing it (1885) is from theatrical slang sense of an actor learning his lines in the wings before going onstage, or else not learning them at all and being fed by a prompter in the wings. The verb to wing "shoot a bird in the wing" is from 1802. The slang sense of to earn (one's) wings is 1940s, from the wing-shaped badges awarded to air cadets on graduation. To be under (someone's) wing "protected by (someone)" is recorded from early 13c. Phrase on a wing and a prayer is title of a 1943 song about landing a damaged aircraft.
Any of various paired movable organs of flight, such as the modified forelimb of a bird or bat or one of the membranous organs extending from the thorax of an insect.
Something that resembles a wing in appearance, function, or position relative to a main body.
One of a pair of specialized parts used for flying, as in birds, bats, or insects.
A thin, papery projection on certain fruits that are dispersed by the wind, such as the fruits of ash, elm, and maple trees. See also samara.
A part extending from the side of an aircraft, such as an airplane, having a curved upper surface that causes the pressure of air rushing over it to decrease, thereby providing lift.
