1wind 
/ˈwɪnd/ noun
plural winds /ˈwɪnd/ noun 1 : a natural movement of air outside [count] ▪ The storm was accompanied by northerly winds. ▪ A gusty/light wind rustled the leaves. ▪ strong/hard winds [noncount] ▪ The wind is blowing hard. ▪ There isn't much wind today. — see also crosswind, downwind, headwind, tailwind, trade wind, upwind, whirlwind 2 [count] : something that has force or influence
▪ the changing/shifting winds of political opinion ▪ The winds of change have begun to blow. [=change is going to happen; change is in the air] ▪ Her political opinions depend on which way the wind is blowing. [=what opinions are popular at the time] 3 [noncount] : the ability to breathe normally
▪ I needed to rest to get my wind back after the climb. [=to stop breathing hard and begin to breathe normally] ▪ The fall knocked the wind out of me. [=knocked the air out of my lungs and made me unable to breathe normally for a brief time] — see also second wind 4 [noncount] Brit : gas in the stomach or intestines
▪ Certain foods give me wind. [=(US) gas] 5 winds [plural] music : musical instruments (such as flutes and horns) that are played by blowing air into them : wind instruments
▪ the changing/shifting winds of political opinion ▪ The winds of change have begun to blow. [=change is going to happen; change is in the air] ▪ Her political opinions depend on which way the wind is blowing. [=what opinions are popular at the time]
▪ I needed to rest to get my wind back after the climb. [=to stop breathing hard and begin to breathe normally] ▪ The fall knocked the wind out of me. [=knocked the air out of my lungs and made me unable to breathe normally for a brief time] — see also second wind
▪ Certain foods give me wind. [=(US) gas]
break wind
: to pass gas out of the anus
catch/get wind of (something)
: to hear about (something private or secret)
▪ They got wind of our plans for a party. ▪ The police caught wind of the plot.
▪ They got wind of our plans for a party. ▪ The police caught wind of the plot.
get/have the wind up
Brit, informal : to become/be afraid or nervous
▪ When they started questioning him, he got the wind up.
▪ When they started questioning him, he got the wind up.
in the wind
: about to happen
▪ Change is in the wind.
▪ Change is in the wind.
like the wind
: very fast
▪ He grabbed the money and ran like the wind.
▪ He grabbed the money and ran like the wind.
put the wind up (someone)
Brit, informal : to make (someone) afraid or nervous
▪ I tried to put the wind up him by threatening to call the police.
▪ I tried to put the wind up him by threatening to call the police.
sail close to the wind — see 1sail
straw in the wind — see straw
take the wind out of someone's sails
: to cause someone to lose confidence or energy
▪ The team's star player was injured and it really took the wind out of their sails.
▪ The team's star player was injured and it really took the wind out of their sails.
three sheets to the wind — see 2sheet
throw/fling/cast caution to the wind — see 1caution
