wing

UK: /ˈwɪŋ/ US: /wɪŋ/ ,(wing)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

wing /wɪŋ/   n. [countable]

1. Birds either of the two limbs or similar parts of birds, insects, and bats that are specially designed for enabling flight.
2. something, as the vane of a windmill, that resembles a wing.
3. Aeronautics one of a pair of usually long, flat parts of an aircraft that stick out from its body and provide lift.
4. Architecture a part of a building that sticks out from a central or main part.
5. Government an often extreme group or faction within an organization:
   the libertarian wing of the party.
6. Sport a position or player on the far side of the center, as in hockey.
7. Show Business Usually, wings. [plural] the space at the side of a stage, usually not seen by the audience:
   stood in the wings.

v. 

8. to travel on or as if on wings: [~ + object]
   Birds wing their way south during the winter.
   [no object]
   Birds winging swiftly south.
9. to wound in the wing or arm:
   [~ + object] The rifle shot winged him.

Idioms

10. Idioms in the wings, ready to be called or put into action:
    We have a new plan waiting in the wings.
11. Idioms on the wing, in flight;
    flying.
12. Idioms under one's wing, under one's protection, training, or care:
    takes all new trainees under her wing.
13. Idioms, Informal Terms wing it, to do something without preparation;
    improvise.

winged, adj. 
wing•less, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

wing  (wing), n. 

1. Birds either of the two forelimbs of most birds and of bats, corresponding to the human arms, that are specialized for flight.
2. Birds either of two corresponding parts in flightless birds, which may be rudimentary, as in certain ratite birds, or adapted for swimming, as in penguins.
3. one of the paired, thin, lateral extensions of the body wall of an insect, located on the mesothorax and the metathorax, by means of which it flies.
4. a similar structure with which gods, angels, demons, etc., are conceived to be provided for the purpose of flying.
5. Slang Terms an arm of a human being, esp. a baseball player's pitching or throwing arm.
6. a means or instrument of flight, travel, or progress.
7. the act or manner of flying.
8. something resembling or likened to a bird's wing, as a vane or sail of a windmill.
9. Aeronautics
   • one of a pair of airfoils attached transversely to the fuselage of an aircraft and providing lift.
   • both airfoils, taken collectively.
10. Architecture a part of a building projecting on one side of, or subordinate to, a central or main part.
11. Furniture either of two forward extensions of the sides of the back of an easy chair.
12. Military either of the two side portions of an army or fleet, usually called right wing and left wing, and distinguished from the center;
    flank units.
13. Military an administrative and tactical unit of the U.S. Air Force consisting of two or more groups, headquarters, and certain supporting and service units.
14. Aeronautics (in flight formation) noting a position to the side and just to the rear of another airplane.
15. [Fort.] either of the longer sides of a crownwork, uniting it to the main work.
16. Sport (in some team games) any one of the positions, or a player in such a position, on the far side of the center position, known as the left and right wings with reference to the direction of the opposite goal.
17. Show Business [Theat.]
    • Show Business the platform or space on the right or left of the stage proper.
    • See wing flat. 
18. Anatomy an ala:
    the wings of the sphenoid.
19. [Bot.]
    • Botany any leaflike expansion, as of a samara.
    • Botany one of the two side petals of a papilionaceous flower. See diag. under papilionaceous. 
20. Building either of the parts of a double door, screen, etc.
21. the feather of an arrow.
22. Government a faction within a political party, as at one extreme or the other:
    conflict between the right wing and the left wing.
23. Nautical one of the far side areas of the hold of a merchant vessel.
24. British Terms a fender of an automobile, truck, bicycle, or other vehicle.
25. on the wing:
    • in flight, or flying:
      a bird on the wing.
    • in motion;
      traveling;
      active:
      Scouts are on the wing in search of a new talent.
26. take wing:
    • to begin to fly;
      take to the air.
    • to leave in haste;
      depart:
      Our resolutions to economize swiftly took wing.
27. under one's wing, under one's protection, care, or patronage:
    She took the orphan under her wing.

v.t. 

28. to equip with wings.
29. to enable to fly, move rapidly, etc.;
    lend speed or celerity to.
30. to supply with a winglike part, a side structure, etc.
31. to transport on or as on wings.
32. to perform or accomplish by wings.
33. to traverse in flight.
34. to wound or disable in the wing:
    to wing a bird.
35. to wound (a person) in an arm or other nonvital part.
36. to bring down (as a flying bird) by a shot.
37. Informal Terms to throw;
    lob:
    He winged a ball through the neighbor's window.
38. to brush or clean with a wing.
39. Show Business [Theat.] to perform (a part, role, etc.) relying on prompters in the wings.

v.i. 

40. to travel on or as if on wings;
    fly;
    soar:
    They are winging to the coast.
41. Informal Terms wing it, to accomplish or execute something without sufficient preparation or experience;
    improvise:
    He had no time to study, so he had to wing it.

• Old Danish wingæ; compare Norwegian, Swedish vinge, Old Norse vǣngr
• Middle English wenge (plural noun, nominal) 1125–75

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

wing / wɪŋ/ noun

1. either of the modified forelimbs of a bird that are covered with large feathers and specialized for flight in most species
2. one of the organs of flight of an insect, consisting of a membranous outgrowth from the thorax containing a network of veins
3. either of the organs of flight in certain other animals, esp the forelimb of a bat
4. a half of the main supporting surface on an aircraft, confined to one side of it
5. the full span of the main supporting surface on both sides of an aircraft
6. an aircraft designed as one complete wing
7. a position in flight formation, just to the rear and to one side of an aircraft
8. an organ or apparatus resembling a wing
9. anything suggesting a wing in form, function, or position, such as a sail of a windmill or a ship
10. either of the lateral petals of a sweetpea or related flower
11. any of various outgrowths of a plant part, esp the process on a wind-dispersed fruit or seed
12. a means or cause of flight or rapid motion; flight: fear gave wings to his feet
13. the part of a car body that surrounds the wheels
    US and Canadian name: fender
14. either of the two sides of the pitch near the touchline
15. a player stationed in such a position; winger
16. a faction or group within a political party or other organization
    See also left wing, right wing
17. a part of a building that is subordinate to the main part
18. (plural) the space offstage to the right or left of the acting area in a theatre
19. in the wings ⇒ ready to step in when needed
20. either of the two pieces that project forwards from the sides of some chairbacks
21. the US name for quarterlight
22. (plural) an insignia in the form of stylized wings worn by a qualified aircraft pilot
23. a tactical formation in some air forces, consisting of two or more squadrons
24. any of various flattened organs or extensions in lower animals, esp when used in locomotion
25. on a wing and a prayer ⇒ with only the slightest hope of succeeding
26. on the wing ⇒ flying
27. travelling
28. take wing ⇒ to lift off or fly away
29. to depart in haste
30. to become joyful
31. under one's wing ⇒ in one's care or tutelage
32. clip someone's wings ⇒ to restrict someone's freedom
33. to thwart someone's ambition

verb (mainly tr)

1. (also intr) to make (one's way) swiftly on or as if on wings
2. to shoot or wound (a bird, person, etc) superficially, in the wing or arm, etc
3. to cause to fly or move swiftly: to wing an arrow
4. to provide with wings

Etymology: 12th Century: from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse vǣngir (plural), Norwegian veng

ˈwingˌlike adjective