wire

name

1. A surname.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English wir, wyr, from Old English wīr (“wire, metal thread, wire-ornament”), from Proto-Germanic *wīraz (“wire”), from Proto-Indo-European *weh₁iros (“a twist, thread, cord, wire”), from *weh₁y- (“to turn, twist, weave, plait”).

1. Metal formed into a thin, even thread, now usually by being drawn through a hole in a steel die.

   “Holonyms: cable; wire rope; wiring harness; wire wool”

   “From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much. Those entering it are greeted by wire fences, walls dating back to colonial times and security posts. For mariners leaving the port after lonely nights on the high seas, the delights of the B52 Night Club and Stallion Pub lie a stumble away.”

2. A piece of such material; a thread or slender rod of metal, a cable.
3. A metal conductor that carries electricity.

   “That wire powers the lamp.”

   “Time is running out, so I renounce a spin on a Class 387 for a fast run to Paddington on another Class 800 - a shame as the weather was perfect for pictures. Even so, it's enjoyable - boy, can those trains shift under the wires.”

4. A fence made of usually barbed wire.
5. A finish line of a racetrack.
6. A telecommunication wire or cable.

   “The episode began by a telephone ring in the morning and the voice of Algernon Mailey at the far end of the wire.”

7. An electric telegraph; a telegram.

   “Another letter. "Friedrichswerks, Hamburg, Germany. We beg to acknowledge receipt of order for fifteen thousand Robots." [Telephone rings.] Hello! This is the Central Office. Yes. Certainly. Well, send them a wire. Good. [Hangs up telephone.] Where did I leave off?”

   ““Oh, hadn’t I told you?” the other said quickly. “I had a wire yesterday. He landed in New York Wednesday. It was such a mixed-up sort of message, I never could understand what he was trying to tell me, except that he would have to stay in New York for a week or so. It was over fifty words long.””

8. A hidden listening device on the person of an undercover operative for the purposes of obtaining incriminating spoken evidence.
9. A deadline or critical endpoint.

   “This election is going to go right to the wire”

   “If you don't surrender now, it's gonna go down to the wire”

10. A wire strung with beads and hung horizontally above or near the table which is used to keep score.
11. Any of the system of wires used to operate the puppets in a puppet show; hence, the network of hidden influences controlling the action of a person or organization; strings.

    “to pull the wires for office”

12. A pickpocket, especially one who targets women.
13. A covert signal sent between people cheating in a card game.
14. A knitting needle.
15. The slender shaft of the plumage of certain birds.
16. Clipping of wire service and/or newswire.

    “Breaking news reports have just come in to us over the wire.”

verb

Etymology: From Middle English wir, wyr, from Old English wīr (“wire, metal thread, wire-ornament”), from Proto-Germanic *wīraz (“wire”), from Proto-Indo-European *weh₁iros (“a twist, thread, cord, wire”), from *weh₁y- (“to turn, twist, weave, plait”).

1. To fasten with wire, especially with reference to wine bottles, corks, or fencing.

   “We need to wire that hole in the fence.”

   “I could see him in his plane flying low over the river or a reservoir, dropping the club out with a chunk of lead wired to the shaft.”

2. To string on a wire.

   “wire beads”

3. To equip with wires for use with electricity.

   “Do you know how to wire a plug?”

   “Replying on March 20 to a Commons Written Question from Alberto Costa (Conservative, South Leicestershire) about plans to wire to Leicester, Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: "We are currently investing in the biggest upgrade of the Midland Main Line since it was completed in 1870. [...]”

4. To connect, embed, incorporate, or include (something) into (something else) by or as if by wires:

   “I'll just wire your camera to the computer screen.”

   “Assuming that all of the conference rooms are wired into the LAN, the sales representative would have to carry a cable to connect into any conference room that they visit, find the appropriate wall jack, and connect into the network.”

5. To connect, embed, incorporate, or include (something) into (something else) by or as if by wires:

   “There is an enormous neurological consequence to mechanorecptor dysfunction, which is related to how these cells are wired into the spinal cord.”

   “The distal tier of cells has a wider acceptance angle than the proximal tier and different neuronal wiring (distal photoreceptors are wired into the lamina, while proximal photoreceptors are wired into the medulla), as well as a different spectral receptor composition.”

6. To connect, embed, incorporate, or include (something) into (something else) by or as if by wires:

   “He was the minority leader's political eyes and ears— nicknamed "the Electrician," due to all the intrigue and legislative shenanigans he was wired into.”

   “Like the fledgling scientist who tried to wire himself into the sisterly circle at Field Place, Prometheus joins the electric circuit formed by his "Fair sister nymphs," Panthea, Asia, ...”

7. To set or predetermine (someone's personality or behaviour, or an organization's culture) in a particular way.

   “There's no use trying to get Sarah to be less excitable. That's just the way she's wired.”

   ““‘Cept I do hurt people sometimes, Case. I guess it's just the way I'm wired.””

8. To send a message or monetary funds to another person through a telecommunications system, formerly predominantly by telegraph.

   “Urgent: please wire me another 100 pounds sterling.”

   “The detective wired ahead, hoping that the fugitive would be caught at the railway station.”

9. To make someone tense or psyched up. See also adjective wired.

   “Coffee late at night wires me good and proper.”

10. To install eavesdropping equipment.

    “We wired the suspect's house.”

11. To snare by means of a wire or wires.
12. To place (a ball) so that the wire of a wicket prevents a successful shot.