wye

Pluralwyes

Formswyes, wying, wyed

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A Y-shaped object, such as a place where three roads or train tracks meet.

   Like the letter Y, where one line splits into two.

   The train backed onto the wye to turn around.

   Three tracks join together at the wye just past the station.

   Similarfork

   Note
2. 2
   nouncountable

   The name of the letter Y, also written as a small y.

   The teacher asked the class to write a neat wye on their slates.

   On the eye chart, the wye sat between two larger letters.

   Note
3. 3
   verbtransitive

   To turn a train around by driving it through a Y-shaped set of tracks.

   Like turning a car around using a three-point turn.

   Operators must wye the engine before it can head back.

   They wyed the whole train at the junction.

   Similarturn, reverse

   Note
4. 4
   verbtransitive

   To bend or shape something so it looks like the letter Y.

   Like making your fingers into a Y shape.

   The plumber wyed the pipe to split the water flow two ways.

   You can wye the branch by training two shoots to grow apart.

   Similarfork, split, bifurcate

   Note

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