# wound

Pronunciation: say "WOOND" /wuːnd/

## Noun

1. An injury to the body, especially one in which the skin is cut, pierced, torn, or broken open, as by a knife, bullet, or blow.
   - Simple: An injury where the skin or body is cut, torn, or broken open, for example by a knife or bullet.
   - _The medic dressed the wound before moving the injured man to safety._
   - _Several wounds covered his arms after the fall from the cliff._
4. An injury to someone's feelings, standing, or prospects, or to some other nonphysical interest.
   - Simple: Deep hurt to someone's feelings, good name, or future chances.
   - _The betrayal left a wound that no apology could ever heal._
   - _Public criticism can inflict lasting wounds on a young artist's confidence._

## Verb

2. To cause an injury in which someone's skin is cut, pierced, or torn.
   - Simple: To hurt someone by cutting, stabbing, or tearing their skin.
   - _The blast could wound everyone standing near the doorway._
   - _A stray bullet wounded two bystanders during the robbery._
3. Simple past and past participle of wind. — simple past and past participle of wind (pronounced: say "WOWND" /waʊnd/)
   - Simple: Past tense and past participle of wind. Use this form for something that was twisted, turned, or coiled in the past.
   - _The narrow road wound through the valley for several miles._
   - _She had wound the bandage too tightly around his arm._
5. To hurt a person's feelings.
   - Simple: To say or do something that hurts someone's feelings.
   - _Thoughtless remarks can wound even the closest of friends._
   - _His sister's sharp criticism wounded him more than he admitted._

## Origin

**Meanings 1–2, 4–5** — Both the noun and the verb go back to Proto-Germanic. The noun *wundō gave Old English wund, which became Middle English wund. The verb *wundōną gave Old English wundian, later Middle English wunden.
**Meaning 3** — A past form of wind, in its sense of turning or coiling.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/wound (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).