wire

A thin piece of metal that carries electricity between things.

• A wire connects the battery to the light.
• The electrician replaced two damaged wires.
• Could a loose wire cause this problem?

Similar words: conductor

Common phrases: electric wire, wire connection, loose wire

Metal made into a long, thin piece that can be bent or used to hold things together.

• The fence is made of wire.
• She bent the wire into a circle.
• We bought several rolls of steel wire.

Similar words: cable, thread

Common phrases: barbed wire, copper wire, wire fence

The very last moment when something must be finished or decided.

• The race went to the wire.
• Negotiations came down to the wire again.
• We worked right up to the wire to finish.

How to use it: go down to the wire (The election could go down to the wire.)

Similar words: deadline

Common phrases: to the wire, down to wire

To connect something using thin metal pieces that carry electricity.

• Can you wire this lamp?
• They wired the new kitchen yesterday.
• The technician wired the alarm to the power supply.

How to use it: wire something to something (She wired the switch to the motor.); wire something up (They wired up the new lights.)

Similar words: connect

Common phrases: wire something up, wire a house, wire something to something

To send money or a message over an electronic connection.

• Please wire me some money.
• She wired the payment to his bank account.
• They wired a message asking for help.

How to use it: wire something to someone (He wired the money to his sister.); wire someone something (Please wire me the funds today.)

Similar words: transfer, send

Common phrases: wire money, wire someone something, wire funds

To hold something in place using thin pieces of metal.

• They wired the gate shut.
• The cork was wired firmly onto the bottle.
• We wired the broken fence sections together.

How to use it: wire something to something (We wired the mesh to the fence posts.)

Similar words: fasten, secure

Common phrases: wire something shut, wire a cork, wire something together