Insult

verb

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈsʌlt/

[with object]

• speak to or treat with disrespect or scornful abuse:you’re insulting the woman I love

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɪnsʌlt/

• 1a disrespectful or scornfully abusive remark or act:he hurled insults at ushe saw the book as a deliberate insult to the Church

•  a thing so worthless or contemptible as to be offensive:the present offer is an absolute insult

• 2 Medicine an event which causes damage to a tissue or organ:the movement of the bone causes a severe tissue insult

Invalid

Definition of invalid

noun

• a person made weak or disabled by illness or injury:she spent the rest of her life as an invalid[as modifier]:her invalid husband

verb (invalids, invaliding, invalided)

[with object]

• remove (someone) from active service in the armed forces because of injury or illness:he was badly wounded and invalided out of the infantry

•  disable (someone) by injury or illness:an officer invalided by a chest wound

lead

verb (past and past participle led /lɛd/)

[with object]

• 1cause (a person or animal) to go with one by holding them by the hand, a halter, a rope, etc. while moving forward:she emerged leading a bay horse

•  [with object and adverbial of direction] show (someone or something) the way to a destination by going in front of or beside them:she stood up and led her friend to the door

• 2 [no object, with adverbial of direction] (usually lead to) be a route or means of access to a particular place or in a particular direction:the door led to a better-lit corridora farm track led off to the left

•  [with object] be a reason or motive for (someone):nothing that I have read about the case leads me to the conclusion that anything untoward happened[with object and infinitive]:a fascination for art led him to start a collection of paintings

•  [no object] culminate or result in (a particular event or consequence):closing the plant will lead to 300 job lossesfashioning a policy appropriate to the situation entails understanding the forces that led up to it

• 3be in charge or command of:a military delegation was led by the Chief of Staff

•  organize and direct:the conference included sessions led by people with personal knowledge of the area

•  be the principal player of (a group of musicians):since the forties he has led his own big bands

•  set (a process) in motion:they are waiting for an expansion of world trade to lead a recovery

•  [no object] (lead (off) with) begin a report or text with a particular item:the radio news led with the murder

•  [no object] (lead with) Boxing make an attack with (a particular punch or fist):Adam led with a left

•  (in card games) play (the first card) in a trick or round of play:he led the ace and another heart[no object]:it’s your turn to lead

• 4 [no object] have the advantage over competitors in a race or game:[with complement]:he followed up with a break of 105 to lead 3-0[with object]:the Wantage jockey was leading the field

•  [with object] be superior to (competitors or colleagues):there will be specific areas or skills in which other nations lead the world

• 5have or experience (a particular way of life):she’s led a completely sheltered life

noun

• 1the initiative in an action; an example for others to follow:Britain is now taking the lead in environmental policies

•  a clue to be followed in the resolution of a problem:detectives investigating the murder are chasing new leads

•  (in card games) an act or right of playing first in a trick or round of play:it’s your lead

•  the card played first in a trick or round:the ♦8 was an inspired lead

• 2 (the lead) a position of advantage in a contest; first place:the team burst into life and took the leadthey were beaten 5-3 after twice being in the lead

•  an amount by which a competitor is ahead of the others:the team held a slender one-goal lead

• 3the chief part in a play or film:she had the lead in a new film[as modifier]:the lead role

•  the person playing the chief part:he still looked like a romantic lead

•  [usually as modifier] the chief performer or instrument of a specified type:a lead guitarist

•  [often as modifier] the item of news given the greatest prominence in a newspaper or magazine:the lead story

• 4British a strap or cord for restraining and guiding a dog or other domestic animal:the dog is our constant walking companion and is always kept on a lead

• 5British a wire that conveys electric current from a source to an appliance, or that connects two points of a circuit together.

• 6the distance advanced by a screw in one turn.

• 7an artificial watercourse leading to a mill.

•  a channel of water in an ice field.

Live

verb

• 1 [no object] remain alive:the doctors said she had only six months to liveboth cats lived to a ripe age

•  [with adverbial] be alive at a specified time:he lived four centuries ago

•  [with adverbial] spend one’s life in a particular way or under particular circumstances:people are living in fear in the wake of the shootings[with object and adverbial]:he was living a life of luxury in Australia

•  (live in (or out)) (of an employee or student) reside at (or away from) the place where one works or studies:the development is designed to provide extra accommodation for undergraduates to enable all 400 to live in

•  supply oneself with the means of subsistence:they live by hunting and fishing

•  (live through) survive (an unpleasant experience or period):both men lived through the Depression

•  survive in someone’s mind; be remembered:only the name lived on

•  have an exciting or fulfilling life:he couldn’t wait to get out of school and really start living

•  (live for) regard as the purpose or most important aspect of one’s life:Tony lived for his painting

•  archaic (of a ship) escape destruction; remain afloat.

• 2 [no object, with adverbial] make one’s home in a particular place or with a particular person:I’ve lived in the East End all my lifethey lived with his grandparents

•  informal (of an object) be kept in a particular place:I told her where the coffee lived and went back to sleep

minute

noun

• 1a period of time equal to sixty seconds or a sixtieth of an hour:we waited for twenty minutesI’ll be there in ten minutes' time

•  the distance covered in a minute by someone driving or walking:the hotel is situated just ten minutes from the centre of the resort

•  informal a very short time:come and sit down for a minute

•  a point in time:she was laughing one minute and crying the next

• 2 (also arc minute or minute of arc) a sixtieth of a degree of angular measurement (symbol: ʹ):Delta Lyrae is a double star with a separation of over 10 minutes of arc

adjective (minutest)

• extremely small:minute particles

•  so small as to be insignificant:he will have no more than a minute chance of exercising influence

•  (of an investigation or account) taking the smallest points into consideration; precise and meticulous:a minute examination of the islands

noun

• 1 (minutes) a summarized record of the proceedings at a meeting:Pat is taking the minutes

• 2an official memorandum authorizing or recommending a course of action.

verb

[with object]

• 1record (the proceedings of a meeting):the Secretary shall minute the proceedings of each meeting

• 2send a memorandum to (someone):look up the case and minute me about it

Object

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɒbdʒɪkt, -dʒɛkt/

• 1a material thing that can be seen and touched:he was dragging a large objectsmall objects such as shells

•  Philosophy a thing external to the thinking mind or subject.

• 2a person or thing to which a specified action or feeling is directed:disease became the object of investigationhe hated being the object of public attention

•  a goal or purpose:the Institute was opened with the object of promoting scientific study

• 3 Grammar a noun or noun phrase governed by an active transitive verb or by a preposition:in Gaelic the word order is verb, subject, object

• 4 Computing a data construct that provides a description of anything known to a computer (such as a processor or a piece of code) and defines its method of operation:the interface treats most items, including cells, graphs, and buttons, as objects

verb

Pronunciation: /əbˈdʒɛkt/

[reporting verb]

• say something to express one’s disapproval of or disagreement with something:[no object]:residents object to the volume of traffic[with clause]:the boy’s father objected that the police had arrested him unlawfully[with direct speech]:‘It doesn’t seem natural,’ she objected

•  [with object] archaic cite as a reason against something:Bryant objects this very circumstance to the authenticity of the Iliad

Perfect

adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈpəːfɪkt/

• 1having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be:she strove to be the perfect wifelife certainly isn’t perfect at the moment

•  free from any flaw or defect in condition or quality; faultless:the equipment was in perfect condition

•  precisely accurate; exact:a perfect circle

•  highly suitable for someone or something; exactly right:Giles was perfect for her—ten years older and with his own career

•  dated thoroughly trained in or conversant with:she was perfect in French

• 2 [attributive] absolute; complete (used for emphasis):a perfect strangerall that Joseph said made perfect sense to me

• 3 Mathematics (of a number) equal to the sum of its positive divisors, e.g. the number 6, whose divisors (1, 2, 3) also add up to 6.

• 4 Grammar (of a tense) denoting a completed action or a state or habitual action which began in the past. The perfect tense is formed in English with have or has and the past participle, as in they have eaten and they have been eating (present perfect), they had eaten ( past perfect), and they will have eaten ( future perfect).

• 5 Botany (of a flower) having both stamens and carpels present and functional.

•  Entomology (of an insect) fully adult and (typically) winged.

• 6 Botany denoting the stage or state of a fungus in which the sexually produced spores are formed.

verb

Pronunciation: /pəˈfɛkt/

[with object]

• make (something) completely free from faults or defects; make as good as possible:he’s busy perfecting his bowling technique

•  archaic bring to completion; finish:then urg’d, she perfects her illustrious toils

•  complete (a printed sheet of paper) by printing the second side:the heap was normally printed as white paper in the morning, turned at the midday break, and perfected in the afternoon

•  Law satisfy the necessary conditions or requirements for the transfer of (a gift, title, etc.):equity will not perfect an imperfect gift

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpəːfɪkt/

(the perfect) Grammar

• the perfect tense.

Derivatives

perfecter

Pronunciation: /ˈpəːfɛktə/

noun

perfectibility

Pronunciation: /pəˌfɛktɪˈbɪlɪti/

noun

perfectible

Pronunciation: /pəˈfɛktɪb(ə)l/

adjective

perfectness

noun

polish

verb

• 1 [with object] make the surface of (something) smooth and shiny by rubbing it:behind the bar the steward polished glasses busily

•  improve, refine, or add the finishing touches to:he’s got to polish up his French for his job

noun

[mass noun]

• a substance used to give something a smooth and shiny surface when rubbed in:a tin of shoe polish

•  [in singular] an act of rubbing something to give it a shiny surface:I could give the wardrobe a polish

•  smoothness or glossiness produced by rubbing or friction:the machine refines the shape of the stone and gives it polish

•  refinement or elegance in a person or thing:his poetry has clarity and polish

present

adjective

• 1 [predic.] in a particular place:a doctor must be present at the ringsidethe speech caused embarrassment to all those present

•  existing or occurring in a place or thing:gases present in the atmosphere

• 2 [attributive] existing or occurring now:she did not expect to find herself in her present situation

•  now being considered or discussed:the present article cannot answer every question

•  Grammar (of a tense or participle) expressing an action now going on or habitually performed, or a condition now existing.

noun

• 1 (usually the present) the period of time now occurring:they are happy and at peace, refusing to think beyond the present

• 2 Grammar a present tense:the verbs are all in the present

Proces

noun

• 1a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end:military operations could jeopardize the peace process

•  a natural series of changes:the ageing process

•  a systematic series of mechanized or chemical operations that are performed in order to produce something:the manufacturing process is relatively simple

•  Computing an instance of a program being executed in a multitasking operating system, typically running in an environment that protects it from other processes..

•  [as modifier] Printing relating to or denoting printing using ink in three colours (cyan, magenta, and yellow) and black to produce a complete range of colour:process inks

• 2 Law a summons or writ requiring a person to appear in court.

• 3 Biology & Anatomy a natural appendage or outgrowth on or in an organism, such as a protuberance on a bone.

verb

[with object]

• perform a series of mechanical or chemical operations on (something) in order to change or preserve it:the salmon is quickly processed after harvest to preserve the flavour

•  deal with (someone or something) using an official procedure:the immigration authorities who processed him

•  Computing operate on (data) by means of a program.

Produce

verb

Pronunciation: /prəˈdjuːs/

[with object]

• 1make or manufacture from components or raw materials:the company have just produced a luxury version of the aircraft

•  (of a place or process) yield, grow, or supply:the vineyards in the Val d’Or produce excellent wines

•  create or form (something) as part of a physical, biological, or chemical process:the plant produces blue flowers in late autumn

•  make (something) using creative skills:the garden where the artist produced many of his flower paintings

• 2cause (a particular result or situation) to happen or exist:no conventional drugs had produced any significant change

• 3show or provide (something) for consideration, inspection, or use:he produced a sheet of paper from his pocket

• 4administer the financial and managerial aspects of (a film or broadcast) or the staging of (a play, opera, etc.):the video was produced and directed by film-maker Neil Campbell

•  supervise the making of (a musical recording), especially by determining the overall sound:the album was produced by reggae master mixer Groucho Smykle

• 5 Geometry, dated extend or continue (a line):one side of the triangle was produced

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈprɒdjuːs/

[mass noun]

• agricultural and other natural products collectively:dairy produce

•  the result of a person’s work or efforts:the work was in some degree the produce of their joint efforts

Derivatives

producibility

Pronunciation: /prəˌdjuːsɪˈbɪlɪti/

noun

producible

Pronunciation: /prəˈdjuːsɪb(ə)l/

adjective

project

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈprɒdʒɛkt/

• 1an individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim:a research projecta project to build a new power station

•  a piece of research work undertaken by a school or college student:a history project

•  a proposed or planned undertaking:the novel undermines its own stated project of telling a story

• 2 (also housing project) North American a government-subsidized housing development with relatively low rents:her family still lives in the projects

verb

Pronunciation: /prəˈdʒɛkt/

[with object]

• 1estimate or forecast (something) on the basis of present trends:spending was projected at £72,900 million

•  (often as adjective projected) plan (a scheme or undertaking):a projected exhibition of contemporary art

• 2 [no object] extend outwards beyond something else; protrude:I noticed a slip of paper projecting from the book(as adjective projecting)a projecting bay window

• 3 [with object and adverbial of direction] throw or cause to move forward or outward:seeds are projected from the tree

•  cause (light, shadow, or an image) to fall on a surface:the one light projected shadows on the wall

•  cause (a sound) to be heard at a distance:being audible depends on your ability to project your voice

•  imagine (oneself, a situation, etc.) as having moved to a different place or time:people may be projecting the present into the past

• 4present or promote (a particular view or image):he strives to project an image of youth

•  present (someone or something) in a particular way:she liked to project herself more as a friend than a doctor

•  display (an emotion or quality) in one’s behaviour:everyone would be amazed that a young girl could project such depths of emotion

•  (project something on to) attribute or transfer an emotion or desire to (another person), especially unconsciously:men may sometimes project their own fears on to women

• 5 Geometry draw straight lines through (a given figure) to produce a corresponding figure on a surface or a line.

• 6make a projection of (the earth, sky, etc.) on a plane surface.

Read

verb (past and past participle read /rɛd/)

[with object]

• 1look at and comprehend the meaning of (written or printed matter) by interpreting the characters or symbols of which it is composed:it’s the best novel I’ve ever readI never learned to read musicEmily read over her notes[no object]:I’ll go to bed and read for a while

•  [no object] have the ability to look at and comprehend the meaning of written or printed matter:only three of the girls could read and none could write

•  speak (the written or printed matter that one is reading) aloud:I read the letter to herthe charges against him were read out[no object]:I’ll read to you if you like

•  habitually read (a particular newspaper or periodical):now, I know what my reputation is—I read the papers

•  [no object, with complement] (of a passage, text, or sign) have a certain wording:the placard read ‘We want justice’

•  used to indicate that a particular word in a text or passage is incorrect and that another should be substituted for it:for madam read madman

•  [no object] (read for) (of an actor) audition for (a role):ring your agent and say you’ll read for the part

• 2discover (information) by reading it in a written or printed source:he was arrested yesterday—I read it in the paper[no object]:I read about the course in a magazine

•  (as adjective, with submodifier read) having a specified level of knowledge as a result of reading:Ada was well read in French literature

•  discern (a fact, emotion, or quality) in someone’s eyes or expression:she looked down, terrified that he would read fear on her face

• 3understand or interpret the nature or significance of:he didn’t dare look away, in case this was read as a sign of weakness

•  [no object, with adverbial] (of a piece of writing) convey a specified impression to the reader:the brief note read like a cry for help

• 4inspect and record the figure indicated on (a measuring instrument):I’ve come to read the gas meter

•  [no object, with complement] (of a measuring instrument) indicate a specified measurement or figure:the thermometer read 0° C

• 5chiefly British study (an academic subject) at a university:I’m reading English at Cambridge[no object]:he went to Manchester to read for a BA in Economics

• 6(of a computer) copy, transfer, or interpret (data):it attempts to read a floppy disk without regard to its format

•  [with object and adverbial] enter or extract (data) in an electronic storage device:the commonest way of reading a file into the system

•  (of a device) obtain data from (light or other input):the microchip gives a unique code when read by the scanner

• 7present (a bill or other measure) before a legislative assembly:the bill was accordingly read a second time

• 8hear and understand the words of (someone speaking on a radio transmitter):‘Do you read me? Over.’

noun

[usually in singular] chiefly British

• a period or act of reading something:I was having a quiet read of the newspaper

•  [with adjective] informal a book considered in terms of its readability:the book is a thoroughly entertaining read

•  US a person’s interpretation of something:their read on the national situation may be correct

Rebel

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈrɛb(ə)l/

• a person who rises in opposition or armed resistance against an established government or leader:Tory rebels[as modifier]:rebel forces

•  a person who resists authority, control, or convention.

verb

Pronunciation: /rɪˈbɛl/

(rebels, rebelling, rebelled) [no object]

• rise in opposition or armed resistance to an established government or leader:the Earl of Pembroke subsequently rebelled against Henry III

•  resist authority, control, or convention:respect did not prevent children from rebelling against their parents

•  show or feel repugnance for or resistance to something:as I came over the hill my legs rebelled—I could walk no further

reform

verb

[with object]

• 1make changes in (something, especially an institution or practice) in order to improve it:the Bill will reform the tax system

•  cause (someone) to relinquish an immoral, criminal, or self-destructive lifestyle:the state has a duty to reform criminals(as adjective reformed)I’m considered a reformed character these days

•  [no object] relinquish an immoral, criminal, or self-destructive lifestyle:it was only when his drunken behaviour led to blows that he started to reform

• 2 Chemistry subject (hydrocarbons) to a catalytic process in which straight-chain molecules are converted to branched forms for use as petrol.

noun

[mass noun]

• the action or process of reforming an institution or practice:the reform of the divorce laws[count noun]:economic reforms

Derivatives

reformable

adjective

reformative

adjective

reformer

noun

refuse

verb

[no object, with infinitive]

• indicate or show that one is not willing to do something:I refused to answer[no object]:he was severely beaten when he refused

•  [with object] indicate that one is not willing to accept or grant (something offered or requested):she refused a cigarette[with two objects]:the old lady was refused admission to four hospitals

•  informal (of a thing) fail to perform a required action:the car refused to start

•  [with object] dated decline to accept an offer of marriage from (someone):he’s so conceited he’d never believe anyone would refuse him

•  [with object] (of a horse) stop short or run aside at (a fence or other obstacle) instead of jumping it:her horse refused a high hedge[no object]:again the horse refused, his nostrils flaring with fear

Derivatives

refuser

noun

row

noun

• a number of people or things in a more or less straight line:her villa stood in a row of similar ones

•  a line of seats in a theatre:they sat in the front row

•  [often in place names] a street with a continuous line of houses along one or both of its sides:he lives at 23 Saville Row

•  a horizontal line of entries in a table:visualize the subject in the form of a sheet of paper divided into columns and rows

•  a complete line of stitches in knitting or crochet.

verb

[with object]

• propel (a boat) with oars:out in the bay a small figure was rowing a rubber dinghy

•  [no object, with adverbial of direction] travel by rowing a boat:we rowed down the river all day

•  convey (a passenger) in a boat by rowing it:her father was rowing her across the lake

•  [no object] engage in the sport of rowing, especially competitively:he rowed for England[with complement]:he rowed stroke in the University Eight

noun

[in singular]

• a spell of rowing.

noun

chiefly British

• 1a noisy acrimonious quarrel:they had a row and she stormed out of the house

•  a serious dispute:the director is at the centre of a row over policy decisions

•  informal a severe reprimand:I always got a row if I left food on my plate

• 2a loud noise or uproar:if he’s at home he must have heard that row

verb

[no object]

• have a quarrel:they rowed about who would receive the money from the saleshe had rowed with her boyfriend the day before

•  [with object] British rebuke severely:she was rowed for leaving her younger brother alone

Sow

verb (past sowed /səʊd/; past participle sown /səʊn/ or sowed)

[with object]

• 1plant (seed) by scattering it on or in the earth:fill a pot with compost and sow a thin layer of seeds on top

•  plant the seeds of (a plant or crop):catch crops should be sown after minimal cultivation

•  plant (a piece of land) with seed:the field used to be sown with oats

•  (be sown with) be thickly covered with:the night sky was sown with stars

•  lay or plant (an explosive mine) or cover (territory) with mines:the field had both British and German mines sown in it

• 2disseminate or introduce (something undesirable):the new policy has sown confusion and doubt

noun

• 1an adult female pig, especially one which has farrowed.

•  the female of certain other mammals, e.g. the guinea pig.

• 2a large block of metal (larger than a ‘pig’) made by smelting.

Subject

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈsʌbdʒɛkt, ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/

• 1a person or thing that is being discussed, described, or dealt with:I’ve said all there is to be said on the subjecthe’s the subject of a major new biography

•  a person or circumstance giving rise to a specified feeling, response, or action:the incident was the subject of international condemnation

•  a person who is the focus of scientific or medical attention or experiment:subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire

•  Logic the part of a proposition about which a statement is made.

•  Music a theme of a fugue or of a piece in sonata form; a leading phrase or motif:the chorale-like second subject of the Scherzo

• 2a branch of knowledge studied or taught in a school, college, or university:maths is not my best subject

• 3a member of a state other than its ruler, especially one owing allegiance to a monarch or other supreme ruler:the legislation is applicable only to British subjects

• 4 Grammar a noun or noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the rest of the clause is predicated.

• 5 Philosophy a thinking or feeling entity; the conscious mind; the ego, especially as opposed to anything external to the mind.

•  the central substance or core of a thing as opposed to its attributes.

adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/

(subject to)

• 1likely or prone to be affected by (a particular condition or occurrence, typically an unwelcome or unpleasant one):he was subject to bouts of manic depression

• 2dependent or conditional upon:the proposed merger is subject to the approval of the shareholders

• 3under the authority of:ministers are subject to the laws of the land

•  [attributive] under the control or domination of another ruler, country, or government:the Greeks were the first subject people to break free from Ottoman rule

adverb

Pronunciation: /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/

(subject to)

• conditionally upon:subject to the EC’s agreement, we intend to set up an enterprise zone in the area

verb

Pronunciation: /səbˈdʒɛkt/

[with object]

• 1 (subject someone/thing to) cause or force someone or something to undergo (a particular experience or form of treatment, typically an unwelcome or unpleasant one):he’d subjected her to a terrifying ordeal

• 2bring (a person or country) under one’s control or jurisdiction, typically by using force:the city had been subjected to Macedonian rule

Derivatives

subjectless

Pronunciation: /ˈsʌbdʒɪk(t)lɪs/

adjective

tear

verb (past tore /tɔː/; past participle torn /tɔːn/)

• 1 [with object and adverbial] pull (something) apart or to pieces with force:I tore up the letterfigurativea nation torn asunder by political pressures

•  remove by pulling forcefully:he tore up the floorboards

•  [with object] make a hole or split in (something) by pulling it or piercing it with a sharp implement:she was always tearing her clothes

•  make (a hole or split) in something by force:the blast tore a hole in the wall

•  [no object] come apart; rip:the material wouldn’t tear

•  [with object] damage (a muscle or ligament) by overstretching it:he tore a ligament playing squash

• 2 [no object, with adverbial of direction] informal move very quickly in a reckless or excited manner:she tore along the footpath on her bike

• 3 (be torn) be in a state of uncertainty between two conflicting options or parties:he was torn between his duty and his better instincts

noun

• a hole or split in something caused by it having been pulled apart forcefully:there was a tear in her frock

noun

• a drop of clear salty liquid secreted from glands in a person’s eye when they cry or when the eye is irritated:a tear rolled down her cheekshe burst into tears and stormed off

verb

[no object]

• US (of the eye) produce tears:the freezing wind made her eyes tear

Used

adjective

• 1having already been used:scrawling on the back of a used envelope

• 2second-hand:a used car

Wind

noun

• 1the perceptible natural movement of the air, especially in the form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction:the wind howled about the buildingan easterly wind[mass noun]:gusts of wind

•  used with reference to an impending situation:he had seen which way the wind was blowing

•  the rush of air caused by a fast-moving body.

•  a scent carried by the wind, indicating the presence or proximity of an animal or person.

• 2 [mass noun] breath as needed in physical exertion, speech, etc., or the power of breathing without difficulty in such situations:he waited while Jez got his wind backshe hit the floor with a thud that knocked the wind out of her

• 3 [mass noun] British air swallowed while eating or gas generated in the stomach and intestines by digestion.

•  empty, pompous, or boastful talk; meaningless rhetoric.

• 4 (also winds) [treated as singular or plural] wind instruments, or specifically woodwind instruments, forming a band or a section of an orchestra:these passages are most suitable for wind alone[as modifier]:wind players

verb

[with object]

• 1cause (someone) to have difficulty breathing because of exertion or a blow to the stomach:the fall nearly winded him

• 2British make (a baby) bring up wind after feeding by patting its back:Paddy’s wife handed him their six-month-old daughter to be winded

• 3detect the presence of (a person or animal) by scent:the birds could not have seen us or winded us

• 4 /wʌɪnd/ (past and past participle winded or wound /waʊnd/) literary sound (a bugle or call) by blowing:but scarce again his horn he wound

Wound

noun

• an injury to living tissue caused by a cut, blow, or other impact, typically one in which the skin is cut or broken:a knife woundchest woundsa wound to the thigh

•  an injury to a person’s feelings or reputation:the new crisis has opened old wounds

verb

[with object]

• inflict a wound on:the sergeant was seriously wounded(as adjective wounded)a wounded soldier

•  injure (a person’s feelings):you really wounded his pride when you turned him down

Derivatives

wounding

adjective

woundingly

adverb

woundless

adjective

past and past participle of wind².