winding

WYN-ding/ˈwaɪndɪŋ/

As a verbWIN-ding

Noun pluralwindings (some meanings)

24 meanings of winding

Practice

1
adjective
Having many bends, twists, or curves in its shape.
Like a snake lying across the ground in big curves.
The winding road climbed slowly up the mountain.
A long, winding river cut across the green valley.
Similartwisting, meandering, curving, serpentine, tortuous
Oppositestraight
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2
adjective
Moving along in twists and turns instead of a straight line.
Like a snake gliding forward in S-shapes.
The winding procession of pilgrims moved through the narrow streets.
A winding line of dancers snaked across the floor.
Similarsinuous, meandering, twisting, serpentine
Oppositestraight
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3
adjective
Used about stairs that curl around in a spiral as they go up.
Like the inside of a seashell that spirals up and around.
A winding staircase led up to the top of the tower.
They climbed the winding stairs all the way to the attic.
Similarspiral, helical
Oppositestraight
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4
noununcountable
The act of twisting or wrapping one thing around another.
Like wrapping string around a spool, going around and around.
The winding of the bandage took careful, even pressure.
He showed her the proper winding of wire onto the bobbin.
Similarcoiling, wrapping, twisting, spooling
Oppositeunwinding, uncoiling
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5
nouncountable or uncountableplural
A twisting, curving movement full of twists and turns.
Like the way a stream bends back and forth across a field.
The slow winding of the river through the hills was hypnotic.
We grew dizzy from the constant winding of the mountain road.
Similarmeandering, twisting, curving, snaking
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6
nouncountable or uncountable
The act of tightening the spring inside a clock or wind-up toy.
Like turning a key on a toy until the spring is tight.
The daily winding of the old clock was his morning ritual.
A few turns of the key finished the winding of the music box.
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7
nouncountable
Something wrapped or coiled around another thing.
Like the thread coiled around the middle of a yo-yo.
The winding of copper on the spool was several layers thick.
She loosened the tight winding from around the handle.
Similarcoil, wrapping, wrap
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8
nouncountable
A coil of wire wrapped around the inside part of a motor or transformer.
Like wire wrapped tightly around a nail to make an electromagnet.
The winding inside the motor is made of thin copper wire.
A broken winding stopped the transformer from working.
Similarcoil
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9
verb
Present participle of wind. Use this form for the ongoing action of twisting or coiling something.
He is winding the rope around the post right now.
They were winding the old clock when we arrived.
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10
nouncountable or uncountableplural
A twisting, curving shape.
Like the curvy shape of a ribbon laid loosely on a table.
The graceful winding of the staircase drew every visitor's eye.
The winding of the coastline made the old map hard to draw.
Similarcurve, twist, meander, curvature
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11
noununcountable
The act of lifting something using a winch or a crank.
Like cranking a handle to pull a bucket up out of a deep well.
The slow winding of the bucket up from the well took several minutes.
The winding of the heavy crate up to the loft made the rope creak.
Similarhoisting, winching, hauling
12
adjectivefiguratively
Used about speech or writing that goes on and on without getting to the point.
Like a story that takes the long way around instead of just telling you the end.
His winding explanation lost everyone before he reached the point.
The letter was full of winding, roundabout excuses.
Similarindirect, meandering, roundabout, circuitous, tortuous
Oppositedirect, straightforward, concise, succinct
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13
nounfigurativelyusually plural
Twists and turns in a story or in someone's thoughts, or sneaky and dishonest behavior.
Like a path that bends and curves instead of going straight.
The winding of the negotiations frustrated everyone at the table.
There was a certain winding in his dealings that made her distrust him.
Similarconvolution, twist, deviousness, craftiness, shiftiness
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14
SayWIN-ding/ˈwɪndɪŋ/
nouncountable or uncountable
Blowing air through a horn or other wind instrument to make a sound.
Like blowing across the top of a bottle to make a sound.
The winding of the horn called the hounds back to the hunt.
He practiced the winding of the bugle until the note rang clear.
Similarblowing, sounding, blast
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15
SayWIN-ding/ˈwɪndɪŋ/
adjective
Making someone breathless or out of breath.
A winding kick to the stomach left the boy sitting on the grass, trying to breathe.
The fast swim across the lake was winding, and he had to rest to get his breath back.
Note
16
SayWIN-ding/ˈwɪndɪŋ/
noununcountablebefore a noun
The act of blowing air through grain to separate the good seeds from the waste.
Like blowing on a pile of dust so the light bits fly off and the heavy bits stay.
The winding of the wheat took all morning at the old mill.
After the harvest, the winding of the barley left a pile of clean grain.
Similarwinnowing
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17
SayWIN-ding/ˈwɪndɪŋ/
adjective
Blown to make a sound, said of a horn or other wind instrument.
From the hill came the long call of a winding horn, telling the hunters to come home.
A winding bugle announced the arrival of the guests.
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18
nounBritishuncountable
Turning a boat or ship so that it faces a certain direction.
Like turning a long bus around on a narrow street.
The winding of the barge in the narrow canal took careful timing.
Crew members helped with the winding of the ship before it left the dock.
Similarturning, turn
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19
nouncountable
The thin silk or wire wrapped tightly around a violin bow near the grip.
Like the soft wrapping around the handle of a tennis racket.
The winding on her violin bow had started to fray.
A repairer replaced the worn winding near the bottom of the bow.
Similarlapping, wrapping
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20
adjectiveobsolete
Easy to bend and not stiff.
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21
adjectiveobsoletefiguratively
Dishonest and sneaky in the way one acts.
Like a snake that never moves in a straight line.
Everyone knew him to be a winding, untrustworthy fellow.
I care not though men call me impudent, / Smooth-tongu'd, audacious, petulant, abhominable, / Forger of vvords and lie, contentious Barretour, / Old, vvinding, bragging, teſty, crafty fox.
1655, Thomas Stanley, “The Clouds of Aristophanes. Added (not as a Comicall Divertisement for the Reader, who can Expect Little in that…Here, winding means sly and dishonest.
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22
nounobsoletecountable
A change or twist added to a tune or melody.
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23
nounobsoletecountable
A decorative object or design that has curves or twists.
Like the curly patterns on an old iron gate.
The gate was crowned with an iron winding of leaves and vines.
She traced the gilded winding carved into the chair's back.
Note
24
nounobsoletecountable or uncountable
A bendy twig used for tying or binding, or the twigs used to build or fix a wall.
As for the manner of making vvalls, by davvbing vvindings and hurdles vvith mud and clay, also of rearing them othervvhiles vvith unbaked bricke; vvho is ſo ignorant that he knovveth it not?
1601, Pliny the Elder, “[Book XXXV.] Of Mud Walls: Of Bricke Walls, and the Order and Manner of Making Them.”Here, windings means thin, bendy twigs used to make walls.
Similarwithy, withe
Note

winding is a form of wind

wind, verb: To follow a curving, twisting path. Full entry

Forms: windwinds he/she/itwinding -ing formwound past tense, past participle
Spelling: wind → winding: add -ing

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of winding apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 9, 14–17

From Middle English, from a verb meaning to expose something to the air or wind, plus the ending "-ing". It relates to the word "wind" (to blow air).

Meanings 1–8, 10–13, 18–24

From Middle English, from a verb meaning to turn, twist, or bend, plus the ending "-ing". Part of it also comes from Old English windung, meaning a woven object.