wing

[[t]wɪŋ[/t]]

n.

1) orn either of the two forelimbs of birds and some mammals, corresponding to the human arms, that are specialized for flight or may be rudimentary, as in flightless birds, and sometimes adapted for swimming, as in penguins

2) ent one of the paired thin, lateral extensions of the body wall on the thorax of an insect, by means of which it flies

3) a means or instrument of flight, travel, or progress

4) the act or manner of flying

5) any winglike part or extension, as the vane of a windmill, the feather of an arrow, or the ala of a bone

6) aer.

a) one of a pair of airfoils attached transversely to the fuselage of an aircraft and providing lift

b) both airfoils, taken collectively

7) archit. a part of a building projecting on one side of, or subordinate to, a central or main part

8) fur either of two forward extensions of the sides of the back of an easy chair

9) mil either of the two side portions of an army or fleet; flank

10) mil an administrative and tactical unit of the U.S. Air Force consisting of two or more groups, a headquarters, and various support units

11) gov a faction within a political party or other organization, usu. at one extreme or the other:

the liberal wing[/ex]

12) spo Sports. (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 or right wing with reference to the direction of the opposite goal

13) sbz Theat.

a) Usu., wings. the space at the right or left side of the playing area of a stage, ordinarily not seen by the audience

b) wing flat

14) Bot.

a) bot any leaflike expansion, as of a samara

b) bot one of the two side petals of a papilionaceous flower

15) wings, any of various insignia representing outspread wings and usu. signifying achievement, acceptance, etc., esp. the successful completion of flight training

16) sts Slang. an arm of a human being

17) to equip with wings or a winglike part or parts

18) to lend speed or celerity to

19) to transport on or as if on wings

20) to perform or accomplish by wings or by flight

21) to traverse in flight

22) to wound or disable in the wing:

to wing a bird[/ex]

23) to wound (a person) in an arm or other nonvital part

24) inf to deliver with or by the arm; throw or lob:

to wing a ball through a window[/ex]

25) to travel on or as if on wings; fly; soar

•

- in the wings on the wing take wing under one's wing wing it

Etymology: 1125–75; ME wenge (pl. n.) < Scand; cf. ON vængr, pl. vængir wing wing′like`, adj.