adj B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

winding

WIHN-dihng

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Winding (adj) means curving and twisting repeatedly, rather than running straight. Example: “A winding path led up through the woods to the summit.”

adj

Curving and twisting repeatedly, rather than running straight.

"A winding path led up through the woods to the summit."

"The river takes a long, winding route to the sea."

"We drove along a narrow, winding road that climbed steeply into the hills."

noun

A coil of wire wrapped around a core, as in a motor or transformer.

"A short in the motor's winding caused it to overheat."

"The engineer replaced the damaged winding on the transformer to restore power."

"Each winding in the generator is made from thin copper wire."

How to use winding

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCurvy and twisty (for roads, rivers, staircases), or a coil of wire in electrical equipment.

Common pairings

a winding road winding staircase motor winding

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: windings
Comparative: more winding
Superlative: most winding

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Can you complete this real example?

A _____ path led up through the woods to the summit.

Etymology

The noun is derived from Middle English winding, windinge, wyndynge (“act of exposing something to the wind, airing, ventilating; act of winnowing (?)”), from winden, wynden (“to expose (something) to the air or wind, ventilate; to cause (someone) to be out of breath; to winnow (wheat); of an animal: to catch the scent of (someone or something)”) + -ing, -inge (suffix forming gerund nouns, and the present participle forms of verbs). The adjective is derived from the verb. The English word is analysable as wind (“to blow air through (a wind instrument or horn) to make a sound; to cause (someone) to become breathless; to winnow (food grain), etc.”) + -ing (suffix forming present participial adjectives and verbs, and nouns denoting an action or the embodiment of an action).

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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twisting meandering serpentine curving coiling tortuous twisty rambling wandering voluminous wind twist

Antonyms

straight rectilinear

Related words

straight direct directly wind square honest consecutive twist

Rhymes for winding

binding finding minding grinding blinding reminding rewinding

See all rhymes for winding →

Frequently asked questions

What does “winding” mean?

The word “winding” means curving and twisting repeatedly, rather than running straight. In plain terms, curvy and twisty (for roads, rivers, staircases), or a coil of wire in electrical equipment.

How do you pronounce “winding”?

“Winding” is pronounced WIHN-dihng (/ˈwɪndɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “winding” in a sentence?

Here is “winding” used in a sentence: “A winding path led up through the woods to the summit.”

What part of speech is “winding”?

Depending on how it is used, “winding” can be an adjective and a noun.

Is “winding” a common word?

“Winding” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “winding” have?

“Winding” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: curving and twisting repeatedly, rather than running straight.

What is the difference between winding and curving?

Winding describes something that curves and twists repeatedly, changing direction multiple times, such as a winding road through hills. Curving can refer to a single smooth bend, while winding implies a more complex, repeated pattern of turns.

What does winding mean in electrical engineering?

In electrical contexts, a winding is a noun referring to a coil of wire wrapped around a core, such as in a motor or transformer, used to generate or respond to a magnetic field. This is a technical use distinct from the adjective describing curving paths.

Can winding describe things other than roads?

Yes, winding can describe any path, river, or route that curves and twists repeatedly, such as a 'winding staircase' or a 'winding river,' not just roads.

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