wire

American  

[wahy^uhr] / waɪər /

noun

1. a slender, stringlike piece or filament of relatively rigid or flexible metal, usually circular in section, manufactured in a great variety of diameters and metals depending on its application.

2. such pieces as a material.

3. a length of such material, consisting either of a single filament or of several filaments woven or twisted together and usually insulated with a dielectric material, used as a conductor of electricity.

4. a cross wire or a cross hair.

5. a barbed-wire fence.

6. a long wire or cable used in cable, telegraph, or telephone systems.

7. Nautical. a wire rope.

8. Informal.

   1. a telegram.

   2. the telegraphic system.

      to send a message by wire.

9. wires, a system of wires by which puppets are moved.

10. a metallic string of a musical instrument.

11. Underworld Slang. the member of a pickpocket team who picks the victim's pocket.

12. Horse Racing. a wire stretched across and above the track at the finish line, under which the horses pass.

13. Ornithology. one of the extremely long, slender, wirelike filaments or shafts of the plumage of various birds.

14. a metal device for snaring rabbits and other small game.

15. Papermaking. the woven wire mesh over which the wet pulp is spread in a papermaking machine.

16. the wire, the telephone.

    There's someone on the wire for you.

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adjective

1. made of wire; consisting of or constructed with wires.

2. resembling wire; wirelike.

verb (used with object)

wired, wiring

1. to furnish with wires.

2. to install an electric system of wiring in, as for lighting.

3. to fasten or bind with wire.

   He wired the halves together.

4. to put on a wire, as beads.

5. to send by telegraph, as a message.

   Please wire the money at once.

6. to send a telegraphic message to.

   She wired him to come at once.

7. to snare by means of a wire.

8. to equip with a hidden electronic device, as an eavesdropping device or an explosive.

9. to connect (a receiver, area, or building) to a television cable and other equipment so that cable television programs may be received.

10. Informal. to be closely connected or involved with.

    a law firm wired into political circles.

11. Informal. to prepare, equip, fix, or arrange to suit needs or goals.

    The sales force was wired for an all-out effort.

12. Croquet. to block (a ball) by placing it behind the wire of an arch.

verb (used without object)

wired, wiring

1. to send a telegraphic message; telegraph.

   Don't write; wire.

idioms

1. down to the wire, to the very last moment or the very end, as in a race or competition.

   The candidates campaigned down to the wire.

2. pull wires, to use one's position or influence to obtain a desired result.

   to pull wires to get someone a job.

3. under the wire, just within the limit or deadline; scarcely; barely.

   to get an application in under the wire.

wire British  

/ waɪə /

noun

1. a slender flexible strand or rod of metal

2. a cable consisting of several metal strands twisted together

3. a flexible metallic conductor, esp one made of copper, usually insulated, and used to carry electric current in a circuit

4. (modifier) of, relating to, or made of wire

   a wire fence

   a wire stripper

5. anything made of wire, such as wire netting, a barbed wire fence, etc

6. a long continuous wire or cable connecting points in a telephone or telegraph system

7. old-fashioned

   1. an informal name for telegram telegraph

   2. an informal name for telephone

8. a metallic string on a guitar, piano, etc

9. horse racing the finishing line on a racecourse

10. a wire-gauze screen upon which pulp is spread to form paper during the manufacturing process

11. anything resembling a wire, such as a hair

12. a snare made of wire for rabbits and similar animals

13. informal right up to the last moment

14. informal to accomplish something with little time to spare

15. informal to misunderstand

16. to exert influence behind the scenes, esp through personal connections; pull strings

17. to compete to the bitter end to win a competition or title

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verb

1. (also intr) to send a telegram to (a person or place)

2. to send (news, a message, etc) by telegraph

3. to equip (an electrical system, circuit, or component) with wires

4. to fasten or furnish with wire

5. (often foll by up) to provide (an area) with fibre optic cabling to receive cable television

6. to string (beads, etc) on wire

7. croquet to leave (a player's ball) so that a hoop or peg lies between it and the other balls

8. to snare with wire

9. informal to set about (something, esp food) with enthusiasm

wire More Idioms  

1. see down to the wire; get one's wires crossed; live wire; pull strings (wires); under the wire.

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Other Word Forms

• dewire verb (used with object)
• miswire verb
• prewire verb (used with object)
• unwirable adjective
• wirable adjective
• wirelike adjective

Etymology

Origin of wire

before 900; Middle English wir ( e ) (noun), Old English wīr; cognate with Low German wīr, Old Norse vīra- wire, Old High German wiara fine goldwork

Example Sentences

A collection of small, wall-mounted sculptures, he combined fragments of found and recycled steel and welded them into forms of chains, sharp tools, barbed wire and other metal objects.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

"Imagine manipulating millions of tubules 100 times thinner than a human hair to make them build a wire or stand up vertically to make a brush," Zhang said.

From Science Daily • Mar. 31, 2026

With the battle to qualify for Europe looking likely to go down to the wire, Russo has hit her league goalscoring stride at the perfect time.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

And, because the system would have double the voltage—800V—the wiring loom can use thinner, lighter wire.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

They have a long stick with a wire loop at the end and a crate.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Related Words

• cable
• coil
• line
• strand
• thread