wire

(redirected from wirelike)
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia.

wire

(wīr)

a. Metal that has been drawn out into a strand or rod, used chiefly for structural support, as in concrete, and for conducting electricity, when it is usually insulated with a rubber or plastic cladding: bought some wire at the hardware store.

b. A strand or rod of such material, or a cable made of such strands twisted together.

c. Fencing made of wire, especially barbed wire.

d. wires The system of strings employed in manipulating puppets in a show.

2. Slang A hidden microphone, as on a person's body or in a building.

a. A telephone or telegraph connection: Who is on the wire?

b. A telegraph service: sent the message by wire.

c. A telegram or cablegram: "Mac got a wire from Milly that Uncle Tim was dead" (John Dos Passos).

d. A wire service: The news came over the wire.

4. A pin in the print head of a computer printer.

5. The screen on which sheets of paper are formed in a papermaking machine.

6. Sports The finish line of a racetrack.

7. Slang A pickpocket.

v. wired, wir·ing, wires

v.tr.

a. To equip with a system of electrical wires: wire a house.

b. To attach or connect with electrical wire or cable: Is the printer wired to the computer?

c. To attach or fasten with wire: Surgeons wired his shoulder together.

2. Slang To install electronic eavesdropping equipment in (a room, for example).

a. To send by telegraph: wired her congratulations.

b. To send a telegram to (someone).

4. Computers To implement (a capability) through logic circuitry that is permanently connected within a computer or calculator and therefore not subject to change by programming.

5. To determine genetically; hardwire: "It is plausible that the basic organization of grammar is wired into the child's brain" (Steven Pinker).

v.intr.

To send a telegram.

Idioms:

down to the wire Informal

To the very end, as in a race or contest.

under the wire

1. Sports At the finish line.

2. Informal Just in the nick of time; at the last moment.

[Middle English, from Old English wīr; see wei- in Indo-European roots.]

wir′a·ble adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

wire

(waɪə)

1. (Metallurgy) a slender flexible strand or rod of metal

2. (Metallurgy) a cable consisting of several metal strands twisted together

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

4. (Metallurgy) (modifier) of, relating to, or made of wire: a wire fence; a wire stripper.

5. (Electrical Engineering) (modifier) of, relating to, or made of wire: a wire fence; a wire stripper.

6. (Metallurgy) anything made of wire, such as wire netting, a barbed-wire fence, etc

7. (Telecommunications) a long continuous wire or cable connecting points in a telephone or telegraph system

8. (Telecommunications) old-fashioned

a. an informal name for telegram, telegraph

b. the wire an informal name for telephone

9. (Instruments) a metallic string on a guitar, piano, etc

10. (Horse Racing) horse racing chiefly US and Canadian the finishing line on a racecourse

11. (Mechanical Engineering) a wire-gauze screen upon which pulp is spread to form paper during the manufacturing process

12. anything resembling a wire, such as a hair

13. (Hunting) a snare made of wire for rabbits and similar animals

14. to the wire down to the wire informal right up to the last moment

15. get in under the wire informal chiefly US and Canadian to accomplish something with little time to spare

16. get one's wires crossed informal to misunderstand

17. pull wires chiefly US and Canadian to exert influence behind the scenes, esp through personal connections; pull strings

18. (General Sporting Terms) take it to the wire to compete to the bitter end to win a competition or title

vb (mainly tr)

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

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

21. (Electrical Engineering) to equip (an electrical system, circuit, or component) with wires

22. (Metallurgy) to fasten or furnish with wire

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

24. (Jewellery) to string (beads, etc) on wire

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

26. (Hunting) to snare with wire

27. wire in informal to set about (something, esp food) with enthusiasm

[Old English wīr; related to Old High German wiara, Old Norse vīra, Latin viriae bracelet]

ˈwireˌlike adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

wire

(waɪ^ər)

n., adj., v. wired, wir•ing. n.

1. a slender, stringlike piece or filament of metal.

2. such pieces as a material.

3. a length of such material used as a conductor of current in electrical, cable, telegraph, or telephone systems.

4. a cross hair.

a. a telegram.

b. the telegraphic system: to send a message by wire.

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

7. Naut. a wire rope.

8. a wire stretched across and above the track at the finish line of a racetrack.

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

10. the wire, the telephone: There's someone on the wire for you.

adj.

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

v.t.

12. to furnish, fit, fasten, or bind with wire or wires.

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

14. to send by telegraph.

15. to send a message to by telegraph.

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

v.i.

17. to send a telegraphic message; telegraph.

Idioms:

1. down to the wire, to the very last moment or the very end.

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

[before 900; Middle English wir(e) (n.), Old English wīr, c. Middle Low German wīre, Old Norse vīra- wire]

wire

muselet - The wire that holds a champagne cork in place.
reinforced concrete - Has wire or metal bars embedded to increase its tensile strength.
down to the wire - Alludes to the imaginary wire at the finish line in a horse race.
under the wire - Meaning "just in time," it is from horse racing, in which the wire marks the finish line.

wire

– telegram

1. 'wire'

A wire is a long, thin piece of metal used for fastening things, or for carrying electricity or electrical signals.

In American English, a wire is also a message sent by telegraph and then printed and delivered to your house or office.

2. 'telegram'

In British English, a message like this is usually called a telegram.

Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012

wire

Past participle: wired
Gerund: wiring

Imperative
wire
wire

Present
I wire
you wire
he/she/it wires
we wire
you wire
they wire

Preterite
I wired
you wired
he/she/it wired
we wired
you wired
they wired

Present Continuous
I am wiring
you are wiring
he/she/it is wiring
we are wiring
you are wiring
they are wiring

Present Perfect
I have wired
you have wired
he/she/it has wired
we have wired
you have wired
they have wired

Past Continuous
I was wiring
you were wiring
he/she/it was wiring
we were wiring
you were wiring
they were wiring

Past Perfect
I had wired
you had wired
he/she/it had wired
we had wired
you had wired
they had wired

Future
I will wire
you will wire
he/she/it will wire
we will wire
you will wire
they will wire

Future Perfect
I will have wired
you will have wired
he/she/it will have wired
we will have wired
you will have wired
they will have wired

Future Continuous
I will be wiring
you will be wiring
he/she/it will be wiring
we will be wiring
you will be wiring
they will be wiring

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been wiring
you have been wiring
he/she/it has been wiring
we have been wiring
you have been wiring
they have been wiring

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been wiring
you will have been wiring
he/she/it will have been wiring
we will have been wiring
you will have been wiring
they will have been wiring

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been wiring
you had been wiring
he/she/it had been wiring
we had been wiring
you had been wiring
they had been wiring

Conditional
I would wire
you would wire
he/she/it would wire
we would wire
you would wire
they would wire

Past Conditional
I would have wired
you would have wired
he/she/it would have wired
we would have wired
you would have wired
they would have wired

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	wire - ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc baling wire - wire used to make bales barbed wire, barbwire - strong wire with barbs at regular intervals used to prevent passage haywire - wire for tying up bales of hay ligament - any connection or unifying bond piano wire - thin steel wire of high tensile strength trip wire - a wire stretched close to the ground that activates something (a trap or camera or weapon) when tripped over
	2.	wire - a metal conductor that carries electricity over a distance conducting wire conductor - a device designed to transmit electricity, heat, etc. filament - a thin wire (usually tungsten) that is heated white hot by the passage of an electric current booster cable, jumper cable, jumper lead, lead - a jumper that consists of a short piece of wire; "it was a tangle of jumper cables and clip leads" lead-in - wire connecting an antenna to a receiver or a transmitter to a transmission line patchcord - a length of wire that has a plug at each end; used to make connections at a patchboard telegraph line, telegraph wire, telephone line, telephone wire - the wire that carries telegraph and telephone signals
	3.	wire - the finishing line on a racetrack finish line, finishing line - a line indicating the location of the finish of a race
	4.	wire - a message transmitted by telegraph telegram message - a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled; "he sent a three-word message" cable, cablegram, overseas telegram - a telegram sent abroad letter telegram - a cheaper form of telegram that is sent abroad for delivery the next day night letter - a cheaper form of telegram sent for delivery the next day
Verb	1.	wire - provide with electrical circuits; "wire the addition to the house" equip, fit out, outfit, fit - provide with (something) usually for a specific purpose; "The expedition was equipped with proper clothing, food, and other necessities" rewire - provide with new wiring; "the university rewired the dormitories when most students brought computers and television sets"
	2.	wire - send cables, wires, or telegrams cable, telegraph telegraphy - communicating at a distance by electric transmission over wire telecommunicate - communicate over long distances, as via the telephone or e-mail
	3.	wire - fasten with wire; "The columns were wired to the beams for support" fasten, fix, secure - cause to be firmly attached; "fasten the lock onto the door"; "she fixed her gaze on the man" unwire - undo the wiring of
	4.	wire - string on a wire; "wire beads" string, thread, draw - thread on or as if on a string; "string pearls on a string"; "the child drew glass beads on a string"; "thread dried cranberries"
	5.	wire - equip for use with electricity; "electrify an appliance" electrify adapt, accommodate - make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose; "Adapt our native cuisine to the available food resources of the new country"

wire

noun

1. cable, lead, flex I ripped out the telephone wire. (Informal)

2. cable, telegraph, telex, radiogram I sent him a wire congratulating him.

verb

1. send, cable, telegraph I'm wiring you some money.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

سِلْكسِلْك رَفيعكابِل مَعْدَنييُرسِلُ بَرْقِيَّةًيوصِلُ بالأسْلاك

drát

kabelledningtelegraferetelegramwire

Draht Leitungen verlegen in Telegrafenleitung telegrafieren Telegramm

σύρμα

alambre cable hilo telegrafiar telégrafo

johdottaakytkeäpujottaasitoavaijeri

fil télégramme télégraphe télégraphier fil électrique

žica

dróthuzalvezetéket szerel

leggja raflögn íritsímisenda símskeytisímskeytivír

filo metallico legare magro e forte non capirsi persona dinamica

針金

철사

elektros instaliacijaišvedžioti laiduslaidainusiųsti telegramąsiųsti telegramą

ievilkt vadusstieplesūtīt telegrammutelegrāfatelegrafēt

aansluiten draad metaalkabel vastbinden

installere elektrisitet ledning ledningstråd metalltråd ståltråd

drut

arame escuta fio

firsirmă

провод проволока колодка

drôtenýpoložiť elektrické vedenieposlať telegram

žicatelegram

ledningtråd

ลวด

teltel kablotel parçasıtelgraftelgraf çekmek

dây kim loại

电线电缆给...装电线金属线一条导线

wire

[ˈwaɪəʳ]

A. N

1. (metal) → alambre m (Elec) → cable m
copper wire → hilo m de cobre
the telephone wire → el cable del teléfono
to get one's wires crossed → tener un malentendido
to pull wires (US) → tocar resortes
he can pull wires (US) → tiene enchufes, tiene buenas agarraderas (Chile)

2. (US) (Telec) → telegrama m
to send sb a wire → enviar un telegrama a algn

3. (Police) (= hidden microphone) → micrófono m oculto

B. VT

1. (also wire up) (Elec) [+ house] → poner la instalación eléctrica en; [+ fence] → electrificar
it's wired (up) for sound → tiene la instalación eléctrica para el sonido
it's all wired (up) for cable television → se ha completado la instalación eléctrica para la televisión por cable
to be wired up (US) (= tense) → estar tenso

2. (US) (Telec) to wire sb → comunicar con algn (por telegrama)
to wire money to sb → enviar un giro telegráfico a algn
to wire information to sb → enviar información a algn por telegrama

3. (= connect) → conectar (to a) it's wired to the alarm → está conectado a la alarma

C. CPD wire brush N → cepillo m de alambre
wire cutters NPL → cortaalambres m inv, cizalla fsing
wire fence N → alambrado m
wire mesh, wire netting N → tela f metálica, malla f metálica
wire service N (esp US) → agencia f de noticias
wire wool N → lana f de alambre

wire up VT + ADV
see wire B1

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

wire

[ˈwaɪə^r]

(= thread of metal) → fil m de fer
a length of wire → un morceau de fil de fer
fine copper wire → du fil de cuivre fin
to take it to the wire → aller jusqu'au bout
to take sth to the wire → aller jusqu'au bout de qch

(ELECTRICITY, ELECTRONICS) → fil m électrique

(mainly US) (= telegram) → télégramme m

modif [rack, basket, cage, fence, frame] → métallique

(also wire up) [+ house] → raccorder au réseau électrique, raccorder; [+ plug, appliance, lamp, stereo] → raccorder

(= send telegram to) [+ person] → télégraphier

(= send electronically) [+ money] → virer

[+ fence] → grillagerwire brush n → brosse f métalliquewire cutter wire-cutter [ˈwaɪə^{rkʌtə^r]} n → cisailles fplwire cutters npl → pince coupante f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

wire

→ Draht m; (for electricity supply) → Leitung f; (= insulated flex) (for home appliance etc) → Schnur f; (for television) → Fernsehanschluss m → or -kabel nt; (in circus: = high wire) → (Hoch)seil nt; to get in under the wire (US inf) → etwas gerade (eben) noch rechtzeitig or mit Hängen und Würgen (inf) → schaffen; to pull wires (esp US inf) → seinen Einfluss geltend machen, seine Beziehungen spielen lassen; he’s pulling your wire (Brit inf) → er nimmt dich auf den Arm (inf); you’ve got your wires crossed there (inf) → Sie verwechseln da etwas; (said to two people) → Sie reden aneinander vorbei

(Telec) → Telegramm nt, → Kabel nt (old)

(= microphone) → Wanze f (inf)

(= put in wiring) plug → anschließen; house → die (elektrischen) Leitungen verlegen in (+dat); (= connect to electricity) → (an das Stromnetz) anschließen; it’s all wired (up) for television → die Verkabelung für das Fernsehen ist vorhanden

(Telec) → telegrafieren, kabeln (old)

(= fix on wire) beads → auf Draht auffädeln; (= fix with wire) → mit Draht zusammen- or verbinden; to wire the parts together → die Teile mit Draht zusammen- or verbinden

vi → telegrafieren, drahten, kabeln (old)

wire

wire brush

n → Drahtbürste f

wire cutters

pl → Drahtschere f

wire gauze

n → Drahtgaze f → or -netz nt

wire-haired

adj → drahthaarig, Drahthaar-; wire terrier → Drahthaarterrier m

wire

wireman

n (esp US)

(= electrician) → Elektroinstallateur(in) m(f), → Elektriker(in) m(f)

(inf, for wiretapping etc) → Abhörspezialist(in) m(f)

(= journalist) Journalist, der für eine Nachrichtenagentur arbeitet

wire mesh

n → Maschendraht m

wire netting

n → Maschendraht m

wirephoto

n (= method) → Bildtelegrafie f; (= picture) → Bildtelegramm nt

wirepuller

n (esp US inf) → Drahtzieher(in) m(f)

wirepulling

n (esp US inf) → Drahtziehen nt, → Drahtzieherei f

wire rope

n → Drahtseil nt

wire service

n (US) → Nachrichtendienst m, → Nachrichtenagentur f

wiretap

n (= device) → Abhörgerät nt, → Wanze f; (= activity) → Abhören nt

vt phone, conversation → abhören, anzapfen; building → abhören in (+dat)

wiretapper

n → Abhörer(in) m(f)

wiretapping

n → Abhören nt, → Anzapfen nt → von Leitungen

wire wheel

n → Rad nt → mit Sportfelgen

wire wool

n → Stahlwolle f

wireworm

n → Drahtwurm m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

wire

[ˈwaɪəʳ]

1. n

a. → filo di ferro (Elec) → filo (elettrico)
to get one's wires crossed (fam) → fraintendere

b. (telegram) → telegramma m

2. vt

a. (Elec) (house) → fare l'impianto elettrico di; (circuit) → installare (also wire up) (two pieces of equipment) → collegare, allacciare
to wire a room for sound → installare un impianto di sonorizzazione in una stanza

b. (Telec) → telegrafare

c. to wire sth to sth (tie) → attaccare qc a qc con un filo

wire

(ˈwaiə) noun

1. (also adjective) (of) metal drawn out into a long strand, as thick as string or as thin as thread. We need some wire to connect the battery to the rest of the circuit; a wire fence.

2. a single strand of this. There must be a loose wire in my radio somewhere.

3. the metal cable used in telegraphy. The message came over the wire this morning.

4. a telegram. Send me a wire if I'm needed urgently.

verb

1. to fasten, connect etc with wire. The house has been wired (up), but the electricity hasn't been connected yet.

2. to send a telegram to. Wire me if anything important happens.

3. to send (a message) by telegram. You can wire the details to my brother in New York.

ˈwireless noun

an older word for (a) radio.

ˈwiring noun

the (system of) wires used in connecting up a circuit etc.

high wire

a high tightrope. acrobats on the high wire.

ˌwire-ˈnetting noun

a material with wide mesh woven of wire, used in fencing etc.

wire

→ سِلْك drát wire Draht σύρμα alambre vaijeri fil électrique žica filo metallico 針金 철사 metaalkabel ståltråd drut arame провод ledning ลวด tel dây kim loại 电线

wire

n. alambre.

wire

n alambre m

References in classic literature ?

He would often spend a whole day settling and resettling in their cases the various stones that be had collected, such as the olive-green chrysoberyl that turns red by lamplight, the cymophane with its wirelike line of silver, the pistachio-coloured peridot, rose-pink and wine-yellow topazes, carbuncles of fiery scarlet with tremulous, four-rayed stars, flame-red cinnamon-stones, orange and violet spinels, and amethysts with their alternate layers of ruby and sapphire.

View in context

Manually tracing the outlines of these neurons and all their wirelike projections let Bock's team confirm the quality of their image data.

Complete Fly Brain Imaged at Nanoscale Resolution

This pattern is defined by dense, wirelike strands of fibrotic collagen deposition radiating outward from a central point (Figure 3, A and F; Figure 5, A and B).

Full browser ?

CITE

Site: Follow: Share:

Open / Close