wi de boy (wide boys ) N‑COUNT A wide boy is a man, especially a young man, who has a lot of money but who earns it in a dishonest or illegal way. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
wi de-eyed ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone as wide-eyed , you mean that they are inexperienced and innocent, and may be easily impressed. □ Her wide-eyed innocence soon exposes the pretensions of the art world.
wid|en /wa I d ə n/ (widens , widening , widened )
1 VERB If you widen something or if it widens , it becomes greater in measurement from one side or edge to the other. □ [V n] He had an operation last year to widen a heart artery. □ [V ] The river widens considerably as it begins to turn east.
2 VERB If you widen something or if it widens , it becomes greater in range or it affects a larger number of people or things. □ [V n] U.S. prosecutors have widened a securities-fraud investigation. □ [V ] The search for my brother widened.
3 VERB If your eyes widen , they open more. □ [V ] His eyes widened as he spoke the words.
4 VERB If a difference or gap widens or if something widens it, it becomes greater. □ [V ] Wage differences in the two areas are widening. □ [V n] …policies that widen the gap between the rich and the poor.
wi de-ra nging ADJ If you describe something as wide-ranging , you mean it deals with or affects a great variety of different things. □ …a package of wide-ranging economic reforms.
wide|screen /wa I dskriːn/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A widescreen television has a screen that is wide in relation to its height.
wide|spread ◆◇◇ /wa I dspred/ ADJ Something that is widespread exists or happens over a large area, or to a great extent. □ There is widespread support for the new proposals.
widg|et /w I dʒ I t/ (widgets )
1 N‑COUNT You can refer to any small device as a widget when you do not know exactly what it is or how it works. [INFORMAL ] □ The secret is a little widget in the can.
2 N‑COUNT A widget is a small computer program that you can use on a personal computer or mobile phone. [COMPUTING ] □ If you want to follow all the videos, you can do so by adding this widget to your blog.
wid|ow /w I doʊ/ (widows ) N‑COUNT A widow is a woman whose spouse has died and who has not married again.
wid|owed /w I doʊd/ V-PASSIVE If someone is widowed , their husband or wife dies. □ [be V -ed] More and more young men are widowed by cancer. □ [V -ed] Imogen stayed with her widowed sister.
wid|ow|er /w I doʊə r / (widowers ) N‑COUNT A widower is a man whose spouse has died and who has not married again.
wid|ow|hood /w I doʊhʊd/ N‑UNCOUNT Widowhood is the state of being a widow or widower, or the period of time during which someone is a widow or widower. □ Nothing can prepare you for the shock and grief of widowhood.
width /w I dθ/ (widths )
1 N‑VAR The width of something is the distance it measures from one side or edge to the other. □ [+ of ] Measure the full width of the window. □ The road was reduced to 18ft in width by adding parking bays. □ Saddles are made in a wide range of different widths.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] The width of something is its quality of being wide. □ The best utensil for steaming is a wok because its width easily accommodates a whole fish.
3 N‑COUNT A width is the distance from one side of a swimming pool to the other. □ We swam several widths.
wield /wiː ld/ (wields , wielding , wielded )
1 VERB If you wield a weapon, tool, or piece of equipment, you carry and use it. □ [V n] …a lone assailant wielding a kitchen knife.
2 VERB If someone wields power, they have it and are able to use it. □ [V n] He remains chairman, but wields little power at the company.
wie|nie /wiː ni/ (wienies ) also weenie N‑COUNT Wienies are sausages made from smoked beef or pork. [AM ]
wife ◆◆◆ /wa I f/ (wives )
1 N‑COUNT [usu with poss] Someone's wife is the woman they are married to. □ He married his wife Jane 37 years ago. □ [+ of ] The woman was the wife of a film director.
2 → see also old wives' tale COLLOCATIONS wife NOUN 1
adjective + wife : beloved, dear, loving; first, former, future, second; estranged
verb + wife : marry, meet; leave
wife|ly /wa I fli/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Wifely is used to describe things that are supposed to be typical of a good wife. □ She strove to perform all her wifely functions perfectly.
Wi-Fi also wi-fi /wa I fa I / N‑UNCOUNT Wi-Fi is a system of using the internet without being connected with a wire. [COMPUTING ] □ There is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. □ You can send data to the printer wirelessly over your wi-fi network.
wig /w I g/ (wigs ) N‑COUNT A wig is a covering of false hair which you wear on your head, for example because you have little hair of your own or because you want to cover up your own hair.
wig|gle /w I g ə l/ (wiggles , wiggling , wiggled ) VERB If you wiggle something or if it wiggles , it moves up and down or from side to side in small quick movements. □ [V n] She wiggled her finger. □ [V prep/adv] Your baby will try to shuffle or wiggle along the floor. ● N‑COUNT Wiggle is also a noun. □ [+ of ] …a wiggle of the hips.