wing

wing¹ W2S2 [wıŋ] n

↑antenna, ↑wing

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1¦(bird/insect)¦

2¦(plane)¦

3¦(building)¦

4¦(politics)¦

5¦(sport)¦

6¦(car)¦

7 take somebody under your wing

8 (waiting/lurking) in the wings

9¦(theatre)¦

10 on a wing and a prayer

11 be on the wing

12 take wing

13 get your wings

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1.) ¦(BIRD/INSECT)¦

a) one of the parts of a bird's or insect's body that it uses for flying

▪ a butterfly with beautiful markings on its wings

▪ The pheasant flapped its wings vigorously.

b) the meat on the wing bone of a chicken, duck etc, eaten as food

▪ spicy chicken wings

↑cockpit, ↑wing, ↑tail

2.) ¦(PLANE)¦

one of the large flat parts that stick out from the side of a plane and help to keep it in the air

3.) ¦(BUILDING)¦

one of the parts of a large building, especially one that sticks out from the main part

north/east etc wing

▪ the east wing of the palace

▪ She works in the hospital's maternity wing.

4.) ¦(POLITICS)¦

a group of people within a political party or other organization who have a particular opinion or aim

▪ the moderate wing of the Republican Party

→↑left-wing, ↑right-wing

5.) ¦(SPORT)¦

a) a ↑winger

b) the far left or right part of a sports field

6.) ¦(CAR)¦

BrE the part of a car that is above a wheel

American Equivalent: fender

7.) take sb under your wing

to help and protect someone who is younger or less experienced than you are

8.) (waiting/lurking) in the wings

ready to do something or be used when the time is right

▪ Several junior managers are waiting in the wings for promotion.

9.) ¦(THEATRE)¦

the wings [plural]

the parts at either side of a stage where actors are hidden from people who are watching the play

10.) on a wing and a prayer

if you do something on a wing and a prayer, you do not have much chance of succeeding

11.) be on the wing

literary if a bird is on the wing, it is flying

12.) take wing

literary to fly away

13.) get your wings

to pass the examinations you need to become a pilot

→clip sb's wings at ↑clip² (6), spread your wings at ↑spread¹ (10)

wing ²

wing² v

1.) [I always + adverb/preposition] literary

to fly somewhere

▪ a flock of geese winging down the coast

wing its/their way to/across etc sth

▪ planes winging their way to exotic destinations

2.) wing its/their way

to go or be sent somewhere very quickly

wing its/their way to

▪ A bottle of champagne will soon be winging its way to 10 lucky winners.

3.) wing it

spoken to do something without planning or preparing it

▪ We'll just have to wing it .