6 → see also French window , picture window , rose window
7 PHRASE If you say that something such as a plan or a particular way of thinking or behaving has gone out of the window or has flown out of the window , you mean that it has disappeared completely. □ By now all logic had gone out of the window.
8 PHRASE If you say that there is a window of opportunity for something, you mean that there is an opportunity to do something but that this opportunity will only last for a short time and so it needs to be taken advantage of quickly. [JOURNALISM ] □ [+ for ] The king said there was now a window of opportunity for peace.
wi n|dow box (window boxes ) N‑COUNT A window box is a long narrow container on a shelf at the bottom of a window and is used for growing plants.
wi ndow-dressing also window dressing
1 N‑UNCOUNT Window-dressing is the skill of arranging objects attractively in a window, especially a shop window, or the way in which they are arranged.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If you refer to something as window-dressing , you are critical of it because it is done in order to create a good impression and to prevent people from realizing the real or more unpleasant nature of someone's activities. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The measures are little more than window dressing.
wi n|dow frame (window frames ) N‑COUNT A window frame is a frame around the edges of a window, which glass is fixed into.
window|pane /w I ndoʊpe I n/ (windowpanes ) also window pane N‑COUNT A windowpane is a piece of glass in the window of a building.
wi n|dow seat (window seats )
1 N‑COUNT A window seat is a seat which is fixed to the wall underneath a window in a room.
2 N‑COUNT On a train, bus, or aeroplane, a window seat is a seat next to a window.
wi n|dow shade (window shades ) N‑COUNT A window shade is a piece of stiff cloth or heavy paper that you can pull down over a window as a covering. [AM ] in BRIT, use blind
wi n|dow shop|ping also window-shopping N‑UNCOUNT If you do some window shopping , you spend time looking at the goods in the windows of shops without intending to buy anything.
window|sill /w I ndoʊs I l/ (windowsills ) also window sill N‑COUNT A windowsill is a shelf along the bottom of a window, either inside or outside a building.
wind|pipe /w I ndpa I p/ (windpipes ) N‑COUNT Your windpipe is the tube in your body that carries air into your lungs when you breathe.
wind|screen /w I ndskriːn/ (windscreens ) N‑COUNT The windscreen of a car or other vehicle is the glass window at the front through which the driver looks. [BRIT ] in AM, use windshield
wi nd|screen wip|er (windscreen wipers ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] A windscreen wiper is a device that wipes rain from a vehicle's windscreen. [BRIT ] in AM, use windshield wiper
wind|shield /w I ndʃiːld/ (windshields ) N‑COUNT The windshield of a car or other vehicle is the glass window at the front through which the driver looks. [AM ] in BRIT, use windscreen
wi nd|shield wip|er (windshield wipers ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] A windshield wiper is the same as a windscreen wiper . [AM ] in BRIT, use windscreen wiper
wind|surf|er /w I ndsɜː r fə r / (windsurfers )
1 N‑COUNT A windsurfer is a long narrow board with a sail attached to it. You stand on a windsurfer in the sea or on a lake and are blown along by the wind.
2 N‑COUNT A windsurfer is a person who rides on a windsurfer.
wind|surf|ing /w I ndsɜː r f I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Windsurfing is a sport in which you move along the surface of the sea or a lake on a long narrow board with a sail on it.
wind|swept /w I ndswept/ ADJ A windswept place has no shelter and is not protected against strong winds. □ …the remote and windswept hillside.
wind tun|nel /w I nd tʌn ə l/ (wind tunnels ) N‑COUNT A wind tunnel is a room or passage through which air can be made to flow at controlled speeds. Wind tunnels are used to test new equipment or machinery, especially cars and aeroplanes.
wind-up /wa I nd ʌp/ (wind-ups )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] A wind-up device is a mechanical device with a handle or key that you turn several times before you use it in order to make it work. □ …an old-fashioned wind-up gramophone.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A wind-up is a joke or trick in which someone deliberately tells you something untrue in order to annoy you. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [+ by ] At first I couldn't believe it. I thought it was a wind-up by one of my mates.
wind|ward /w I ndwə r d/ ADJ [ADJ n] Windward is used to describe the side of something, especially a ship, which is facing the wind. □ …the windward side of the quarterdeck.
windy /w I ndi/ (windier , windiest ) ADJ If it is windy , the wind is blowing a lot. □ It was windy and Jake felt cold.
wine ◆◆◇ /wa I n/ (wines , wining , wined )
1 N‑VAR Wine is an alcoholic drink which is made from grapes. You can also refer to alcoholic drinks made from other fruits or vegetables as wine . □ …a bottle of white wine. □ This is a nice wine. ● N‑COUNT A glass of wine can be referred to as a wine .
2 COLOUR Wine is used to describe things that are very dark red in colour. □ She wore her wine-coloured gaberdine raincoat.
3 PHRASE If you wine and dine , or if someone wines and dines you, you go out, for example to expensive restaurants, and spend a lot of money. □ Colleagues were furious at doing her work while she wined and dined. □ A lot of money went on wining and dining prospective clients.