1wire 
/ˈwajɚ/ noun
plural wires /ˈwajɚ/ noun 1 : a thin, flexible thread of metal [noncount] ▪ The flowers were bound together with thin wire. ▪ copper/aluminum wire ▪ a wire rack/fence ▪ wire brushes [count] ▪ There was a wire sticking out of the chair. — see also barbed wire, barbwire, chicken wire, high wire, tripwire, underwire 2 [count] : a thread of metal that is covered with plastic, rubber, etc., and used to send or receive electricity or electrical signals
▪ A telephone wire had fallen on the road during the storm. ▪ A short black wire connects the computer's monitor to its keyboard. ▪ corroded wires — see also live wire 3 [singular] US : a small microphone that is worn under clothing in order to secretly record a conversation
▪ The undercover officer wore a wire to her meeting with the drug dealer. 4 chiefly US a [noncount] : a service that sends news stories from one central office to many newspapers, magazines, television stations, etc.
▪ This story just came over the wire. [=wire service]
b [count] : telegram
▪ They just received a wire from their daughter. 5 the wire US : a thin piece of string that the winner of a race breaks through at the end of the race
▪ She was ahead by two seconds at the wire. ▪ The marathon ended in a sprint to the wire by the two top runners. — often used figuratively ▪ Both candidates are prepared for a sprint to the wire as election day approaches. ▪ The committee was undecided right up to the wire. [=until the very end] ▪ We took them to the wire in last year's championship. [=we forced them to compete very hard against us until the end of the game] ▪ The election went/came (right) down to the wire. [=the election was not decided until the very end]
▪ A telephone wire had fallen on the road during the storm. ▪ A short black wire connects the computer's monitor to its keyboard. ▪ corroded wires — see also live wire
▪ The undercover officer wore a wire to her meeting with the drug dealer.
▪ This story just came over the wire. [=wire service]
b [count] : telegram
▪ They just received a wire from their daughter.
▪ She was ahead by two seconds at the wire. ▪ The marathon ended in a sprint to the wire by the two top runners. — often used figuratively ▪ Both candidates are prepared for a sprint to the wire as election day approaches. ▪ The committee was undecided right up to the wire. [=until the very end] ▪ We took them to the wire in last year's championship. [=we forced them to compete very hard against us until the end of the game] ▪ The election went/came (right) down to the wire. [=the election was not decided until the very end]
get/have your wires crossed
informal, of two people : to fail to understand each other : to be confused because each person has a different idea about what is happening or being said
▪ We got our wires crossed for a minute there—I thought you were asking me something else. ▪ We must have had our wires crossed.
▪ We got our wires crossed for a minute there—I thought you were asking me something else. ▪ We must have had our wires crossed.
under the wire
chiefly US : before something ends : at the end of the time when it is still possible to do something
▪ Her application got/came in just under the wire. [=just in time]
▪ Her application got/came in just under the wire. [=just in time]
wire to wire
chiefly US, sports : from the beginning of a race, game, etc., until the end
▪ He led the race (from) wire to wire. — see also wire-to-wire
▪ He led the race (from) wire to wire. — see also wire-to-wire
— wire·like /ˈwajɚˌlaɪk/ adjective [more wirelike; most wirelike]
▪ the animal's stiff, wirelike hairs
/ˈwajɚˌlaɪk/ adjective [more wirelike; most wirelike] ▪ the animal's stiff, wirelike hairs
