wire
[noun]
Synonyms: pickpocket, cannon, cutpurse, dip, diver, purse cutter

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. wire¹ S2 W3 /waɪə $ waɪr/ noun
[Word Family: noun: wire, wireless, wiring; adjective: wiry, wired, wireless; verb: wire]
[Language: Old English; Origin: wir]

1. [uncountable and countable] thin metal in the form of a thread, or a piece of this:
copper wire
a wire fence ⇒ barbed wire, high wire, tripwire

2. [countable] 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 American English to be finished or achieved with very little time left:
The game was very close and went right down to the wire.

5. [countable] American English a piece of electronic recording equipment, usually worn secretly on someone’s clothes

6. [countable] American English a telegram

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. wire² verb [transitive]
[Word Family: noun: wire, wireless, wiring; adjective: wiry, wired, wireless; verb: wire]

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 something to something
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 something to have all the necessary wires and connections for an electrical system to work:
All the rooms have been wired for cable TV.

5. American English to send a telegram to someone

6. to fasten two or more things together using wire
wire something together
The poles had all been wired together.
⇒ wiring

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

wire
noun
I. metal as thin thread
ADJ. taut, tight | loose, slack | fine, thin | thick | flexible, soft | stiff | rusty | barbed, chicken (= wire mesh used to make fences), razor | piano | perimeter | trip (also tripwire) The bomb was attached to a tripwire laid across the road.
high (= in a circus) One man rode a bicycle along the high wire as the climax to the act.
QUANT. length, piece, strand
VERB + WIRE cut They cut the perimeter wire and escaped.
stretch The wire was stretched between two poles.
WIRE + NOUN grill, mesh, netting | basket, brush, cage, coat hanger, fence, fencing, frame, rack Cool the cakes on a wire rack.
cutters (also wire-cutters)
PREP. behind a/the ~ Behind the wire, the prisoners were exercising.
under a/the ~ We got in under the wire.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

wire
II. for electricity
ADJ. electric, electrical, electricity Don't place carpets over electrical wires. overhead electricity wires
earth, live, neutral Don't touch that wire. It's live.
overhead | telegraph, telephone | fuse | bare, exposed Watch out for bare wires.
insulated, plastic-coated, plastic-covered | frayed
VERB + WIRE attach, connect The wire was attached to a pin in the plug.
disconnect He disconnected the wire from the clock.
run The electrician ran a wire from the kitchen to the bedroom.
WIRE + VERB go, lead, run, trail Where does this wire go? There were wires trailing everywhere.
show Surely the wires shouldn't show like that?
PREP. along a/the ~ the flow of electrical currents along a wire
down a/the ~ A dry laugh echoed down the telephone wire.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

wire
verb
ADV. correctly, properly You should check that the socket is correctly wired.
in, up She was wired up to a heart monitor.
PREP. for Many homes were wired for lighting only.
into, to The Christmas tree lights are all wired to one plug.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

wire

fine/thin
Use a piece of fine wire to clear the obstruction.
thick
Curtains hung from a thick wire.
copper/steel wire
Electrical impulses are sent down the copper wire.
barbed wire (=wire with a lot of sharp points on it, used for making fences)
The prison was surrounded by barbed wire.
a wire fence
We drew up outside a compound surrounded by a wire fence.
a wire rack
Bake the biscuits for 10 minutes until golden. Cool on a wire rack.
a piece/length/strand of wire
The pieces of wire he’d cut were too short.
a coil of wire
The coil of barbed wire will be used for a fence.
a loop of wire
There is no latch or knob – just a loop of wire that goes over a nail.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

wire
ˈwaɪə
See: across the wire , down to the wire , pull strings or pull wires

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲