wing

Definitions

1. noun

   An appendage of an animal's (bird, bat, insect) body that enables it to fly.

   Examples

   • The eagle spread its wings and soared.
   • A butterfly's wings are covered in tiny scales.
2. noun

   A fin at the side of a ray or similar fish.

   Examples

   • The ray glided using the gentle motion of its wing.
   • Divers admired the manta ray's broad wings.
3. noun

   Human arm.

   Examples

   • The old slang used wing to refer to an arm.
   • He joked about hurting his wing during the game.
4. noun

   Part of an aircraft that produces the lift for rising into the air.

   Examples

   • Ice formed on the plane's wing during the flight.
   • Engineers inspected the wing before takeoff.
5. noun

   One of the large pectoral fins of a flying fish.

   Examples

   • The flying fish spread its wings and glided above the water.
   • Its wings let it soar several meters over the waves.
6. noun

   One of the broad, thin, anterior lobes of the foot of a pteropod, used as an organ in swimming.

   Examples

   • The sea butterfly propels itself using its wing-like foot.
   • Its delicate wings beat gracefully through the water.
7. noun

   Any membranaceous expansion, such as that along the sides of certain stems, or one of the bracts on a dragon fruit, or of a fruit of the kind called samara.

   Examples

   • The maple seed's wing helps it spin as it falls.
   • Botanists examined the thin wing along the stem.
8. noun

   Either of the two side petals of a papilionaceous flower.

   Examples

   • The pea flower's wings flank the central keel petal.
   • She pointed out the wing petals on the sweet pea.
9. noun

   A side shoot of a tree or plant; a branch growing up by the side of another.

   Examples

   • The gardener pruned the wing growing beside the main trunk.
   • A new wing sprouted near the base of the old tree.
10. noun

    Passage by flying or flight.

    Examples

    • The bird took wing at the sound of the gunshot.
    • The flock took wing as the sun rose.