wire

wire¹ W3S3 [waıə US waır] n

[: Old English; Origin: wir]

1.) [U and C]

thin metal in the form of a thread, or a piece of this

▪ copper wire

▪ a wire fence

→↑barbed wire, ↑high wire, ↑tripwire

2.)

a piece of metal like this, used for carrying electrical currents or signals

▪ a telephone wire

3.) get your wires crossed

to become confused about what someone is saying because you think they are talking about something else

4.) go/come/be down to the wire

informal especially AmE to be finished or achieved with very little time left

▪ The game was very close and went right down to the wire.

5.) AmE

a piece of electronic recording equipment, usually worn secretly on someone's clothes

6.) AmE

a ↑telegram

→↑wiry

wire ²

wire² v [T]

1.) also wire up

a) to connect wires inside a building or piece of equipment so that electricity can pass through

▪ Check that the plug has been wired up properly.

b) to connect electrical equipment to the electrical system using wires

wire sth to sth

▪ The CD player had been wired up to the car's cigarette lighter.

2.) to send money electronically

3.) to attach a piece of recording equipment to a person or room, especially secretly

4.) be wired for sth

to have all the necessary wires and connections for an electrical system to work

▪ All the rooms have been wired for cable TV.

5.) AmE to send a ↑telegram to someone

6.) to fasten two or more things together using wire

wire sth together

▪ The poles had all been wired together.

→↑wiring