winding

Noun (1)

winding (countable and uncountable, plural windings)

1. (attributive) The act of winnowing (“subjecting food grain to a current of air to separate the grain from the chaff”).
2. The act of blowing air through a wind instrument or (chiefly) a horn to make a sound.
   • Novv their opinions of the end of the vvorld, of Paradiſe, and of hell; exceede the vanity of dreames, and all old vviues fables. They ſay, that at the vvinding of a horne not only all fleſh ſhall die, but the Angels themſelues: & that the earth vvith earthquakes ſhall be kneaded together like a...1615, George Sandys, “The First Booke”, in The Relation of a Iourney Begun An: Dom: 1610. […], London: […] [Richard Field] for W. Barrett, →OCLC, page 58
   • [W]e savv a Fox run by the Foot of our Mount into an adjacent Thicket. A fevv Minutes after, vve heard a confuſed Noiſe of the opening of Hounds, the vvinding of Horns, and the roaring of Country Squires.1732, George Berkeley, “The Fifth Dialogue”, in Alciphron: Or, The Minute Philosopher. […], volume I, London: […] J[acob] Tonson […], →OCLC, section I, pages 266–267

Adjective (1)

winding (not generally comparable, comparative more winding, superlative most winding)

1. (not comparable, usually) Causing one to be breathless or out of breath.
2. (not comparable, usually) Of a horn or wind instrument: blown to make a sound.

Noun (2)

UK/ˈwaɪndɪŋ/

winding (countable and uncountable, plural windings)

1. The act of twisting something, or coiling or wrapping something around another thing.
   • Then there was […] a vast deal of screwing and tightening, and winding and tuning, during which Mrs. Briggs expatiated to those near her on the immense difficulty of playing a guitar, and hinted at the wondrous proficiency of her daughters in that mystic art.1834 October, “Boz” [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], “The Steam Excursion”, in Sketches by “Boz,” Illustrative of Every-day Life, and Every-day People. […], volume II, London: John Macrone, […]...
2. (especially, in plural) A curving, sinuous, or twisting movement; twists and turns.
   • [T]here vvill be hurly burly, like as ye ſee in a man vvhen he dieth; vvhat deformity appeareth, hovv he ſtretcheth out all his members, vvhat a vvinding is there, ſo that all his body cometh out of frame?1552 November 29 (Gregorian calendar), Hugh Latimer, Augustine Bernher, compiler, “Sermon XXX. Preached upon the Second Sunday in Advent. 1552..”, in The Sermons of the Right Reverend Father in God...
   • Eugene Forsarde, the reviewer in question, follows Currer Bell [Brontë's pseudonym] through every winding, discerns every point, discriminates every shade, proves himself master of the subject, and lord of the aim.1849 November, Charlotte Brontë, chapter IV, in E[lizabeth] C[leghorn] Gaskell, The Life of Charlotte Brontë, […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder & Co., […], published 1857, →OCLC, page 130
3. (especially, in plural) A curving, sinuous, or twisting form.
   • Berenice ſtandeth upon the utmoſt vvinding and nouke of Syrtis, called ſometime the cittie of the above-named Heſperides, according to the vvandering tales of Greece.1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book V.] Cyrene.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus....
   • The Labyrinth] A building ſo entangled in vvindings and cyrcles, that it deceiueth all that come in it.1610, Saint Augustine, “What Fictions Got Footing in the Nations, when the Iudges Beganne First to Rule Israel. Chap. 13.”, in J[ohn] H[ealey], transl., St. Augustine, of the Citie of God: […]...
4. Chiefly followed by up: the act of tightening the spring of a clockwork or other mechanism.
   • Is there a Tongue, like Delia’s o’er her cup, / That runs for Ages vvithout vvinding-up?1725, [Edward Young], “Satire I. To His Grace the Duke of Dorset.”, in Love of Fame, the Universal Passion. In Seven Characteristical Satires, 4th edition, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson...
5. Sometimes followed by up: the act of hoisting something using a winch or a similar device.
6. (figuratively, in plural) Twists and turns in an occurrence, in thinking, or some other thing; also, moral crookedness; craftiness, shiftiness.
   • For that vvhich he hath novv attained vvith the begging of ſome ſmall peeces of ſiluer, a temporall happins, & preſent hearts eaſe, I cannot compaſſe vvith all my carefull vvindings, & running in & out.1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Against Pouerty and Want, with such Other Adversity”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy, […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and Iames Short...
   • Its [facetiousness's] vvays are unaccountable and inexplicable, being anſvverable to the numberleſs rovings of fancy, and vvindings of language.a. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “The Second Sermon. Ephes[ians] 5. 4.”, in Several Sermons against Evil-Speaking, London: […] Brabazon Aylmer, […], published 1678, →OCLC, page 45
7. (UK) The act or process of turning a boat or ship in a certain direction.
8. (obsolete) A variation in a tune.
   • Among the windings of the violins / And the ariettes / Of cracked cornets / Inside my brain a dull tom-tom begins / Absurdly hammering a prelude of its own, / Capricious monotone / That is at least one definite "false note."1915 September, T[homas] S[tearns] Eliot, “Portrait of a Lady”, in Prufrock and Other Observations, London: The Egoist […], published 1917, →OCLC, pages 18–19
9. Something wound around another thing.
   • For knovv by lot from Jove I am the povvr / Of this fair VVood, and live in Oak'n bovvr, / To nurſe the Saplings tall, and curl the grove / VVith ringlets quaint, and vvanton vvindings vvove.1634, John Milton, “Arcades”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC, pages 53–54
   1. A length of wire wound around the armature of an electric motor or the core of an electrical transformer.
   2. Synonym of lapping (“lengths of fine silk, metal wire, or whalebone wrapped tightly around the stick of the bow of a string instrument adjacent to the leather part of the bow grip at the heel”).
   3. (obsolete) A decorative object, design, or other thing with curves or twists.
   4. (obsolete, except dialectal) Synonym of withe or withy (“a flexible, slender shoot or twig, especially when used as a band or for binding”); also, all the withies used to make or repair a wall, or the process of using withies in this manner.
      • As for the manner of making vvalls, by davvbing vvindings and hurdles vvith mud and clay, also of rearing them othervvhiles vvith unbaked bricke; vvho is ſo ignorant that he knovveth it not?1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book XXXV.] Of Mud Walls: Of Bricke Walls, and the Order and Manner of Making Them.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the...

Adjective (2)

UK/ˈwaɪndɪŋ/

winding (comparative more winding, superlative most winding)

1. Moving in a sinuous or twisting manner.
   • [H]e [Satan] vvindes himſelfe into this vvinding Beaſt, diſpoſing the Serpents tongue to ſpeake to the vvoman [Eve] […]1613, Samuel Purchas, “[Asia.] Of the Fall of Man: And of Originall Sinne.”, in Purchas His Pilgrimage. Or Relations of the World and the Religions Observed in All Ages and Places Discouered, from...
   • Let her forbeare / To taſt thoſe things that are forbidden there. / […] / The ſuck-egge VVeaſell, and the vvinding Svvallovv, / From theſe ſhe ſhall abſtaine, and not unhallovv / Her op'ned lips vvith their polluted fleſh; […]1631, Fra[ncis] Quarles, “Sect[ion] 4”, in The Historie of Samson, London: […] M[iles] F[lesher] for Iohn Marriott, […], →OCLC, pages 19–20
2. Sinuous, turning, or twisting in form.
   • The thinges that hinder a man vvhich loketh at his marke, to ſhoote ſtreight, be theſe: […] a payre of windinge prickes, and many other thinges mo, which you ſhall marke yourſelfe, and as ye knovv them, ſo learne to amende them.1545, Roger Ascham, Toxophilus, the Schole of Shootinge […], London: […] Edouardi Whytchurch, →OCLC
   • The Current that vvith gentle murmure glides / (Thou knovv'ſt) being ſtop'd, impatiently doth rage: / […] / And ſo by many vvinding nookes he ſtraies / VVith vvilling ſport to the vvilde Ocean.c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
   1. Chiefly of a staircase: helical, spiral.
      • In yᵉ Cour aux Thuilleries is a princely fabriq; the winding geometrical stone stayres, with the cupola, I take to be as bold and noble a piece of architecture as any in Europ of the kind.1644 February 17 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 8 February 1644]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition...
      • VVinding Stairs are projected on a round Profile, vvhoſe Diameter is equal to the Baſe the Stair-Caſe is to ſtand on, ſuppoſe ſix foot ſquare. […] If you dravv Lines from the Center through every one of the equal parts of into the Circumference, the ſpace betvveen every tvvo Lines vvill be the true...1679, Joseph Moxon, “Numb[er] IX. Applied to the Art of House-Carpentery.”, in Mechanick Exercises, or The Doctrine of Handy-Works, […], volume I, London: […] Joseph Moxon, published 1678, →OCLC...
3. (figuratively) Of speech, writing, etc.: not direct or to the point; rambling, roundabout.
   • I will not heare thee, wife; / The winding laborinth of thy straunge discourse / Will nere haue end.c. 1591–1593 (date written), attributed to Anthony Munday, Henry Chettle, William Shakespeare [et al.], edited by Alexander Dyce, Sir Thomas More, a Play; […], London: […] [Frederick Shoberl, Junior]...
   • [A]ll vvriters are not of one and the ſame minde, as touching the very name and the firſt inhabitants of Britaine, and I feare me greatly, that no man is able to fetch out the truth, ſo deeply plunged vvithin the vvinding revolutions of ſo many ages, […]1610, William Camden, “Britaine”, in Philémon Holland, transl., Britain, or A Chorographicall Description of the Most Flourishing Kingdomes, England, Scotland, and Ireland, […], London: […] [Eliot’s...

   Synonyms:

   circuitous, circumlocutionary, indirect, meandering, tortuous

4. (obsolete) Flexible, pliant.
   • To theſe blemiſhes and ſtaines in Court, vvere adjoyned the enormious tranſgreſſions of diſcipline in campe, vvhen the ſouldiour in ſtead of a joyfull ſhout, ſtudied to ſing vvanton ſonnets: neither had the armed man, as before time, a ſtone to couch himſelfe upon, but feathers and delicat vvinding...1609, Ammianus Marcellinus, “[The XXII. Booke.] Chapter III. The Most Ugly and Lothsome Face Described, of the Court and Armie of Iulianus: The Same Princes Impietie, His Hatred and Deceitfull...
5. (figuratively, obsolete) Morally crooked; crafty, shifty.
   • I care not though men call me impudent, / Smooth-tongu'd, audacious, petulant, abhominable, / Forger of vvords and lie, contentious Barretour, / Old, vvinding, bragging, teſty, crafty fox.1655, Thomas Stanley, “The Clouds of Aristophanes. Added (not as a Comicall Divertisement for the Reader, who can Expect Little in that Kind from a Subject so Antient, and Particular, but) as a...

Proper noun capitalized: Winding

Winding (plural Windings)

1. A surname from Danish.