wires
/ˈtel.ɪ.ɡræm/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈaɪɚz] /ˈtel.ə.ɡræm/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈaɪɚz] /ˈwī(-ə)r How to pronounce wire (audio)/ (ame, mw)
wires — noun
1. a thin thread or rod made of metal which is flexible enough to be shaped as need
a thin thread or rod made of metal which is flexible enough to be shaped as needed, used for construction, crafting, or tying objects together
The artist shaped copper wire into a small tree for her sculpture class.
Chidi used a piece of wire to hang the picture frame on the wall.
a piece of wire — countable unit
The fence gate was held shut by a thick strand of twisted wire.
Tara cut a length of wire to make handles for the clay pots she was shaping.
Strong steel wire supports the suspension bridge above the deep river valley.
文法句型
[quantity] of wire
[material] wire
用法筆記
Can be uncountable ('a roll of wire') or countable ('a wire connecting the two posts'). When countable, it usually refers to a specific piece or length.
常見錯誤
2. a thin metal thread wrapped in insulating material such as plastic or rubber, de
a thin metal thread wrapped in insulating material such as plastic or rubber, designed to carry electricity throughout a building, device, or appliance
A mouse had chewed through the wire behind the refrigerator, causing a short circuit.
The electrician ran new wires through the walls of the old house to add more sockets.
ran new wires through [location] — common installation pattern
Daichi checked the wires connecting the solar panels to the battery storage unit.
Gabriela accidentally pulled the wire out of the socket while vacuuming the living room floor.
文法句型
[number]-wire [device]
wire + carries/connects/runs
用法筆記
This sense is often used in the plural ('the wires') when referring to the wiring system of a building or device. 'Cable' suggests a thicker, more heavy-duty wire.
常見錯誤
3. a short message that was sent through a telegraph system in the past, before tel
a short message that was sent through a telegraph system in the past, before telephones and email became common
Tuan's grandfather received a wire announcing the birth of his first son.
passive: received a wire announcing [event]
In the 1940s people sent wires to share urgent family news across long distances.
The general sent a wire to headquarters reporting the situation at the front line.
Maeve found an old wire from 1952 tucked inside her grandmother's diary.
文法句型
wire + verb (sent, received)
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used when talking about the past. Modern equivalents are 'text message' or 'email'.
常見錯誤
4. a fence or barrier made of stretched metal wire, often with sharp points to keep
a fence or barrier made of stretched metal wire, often with sharp points to keep people or animals in or out of an area
The farmer repaired a broken section of the wire where the sheep had escaped.
section of the wire — referring to the fence as a whole
Rows of barbed wire stretched along the top of the prison wall.
Heather's dog dug a hole under the wire and wandered into the neighbour's garden.
During the storm a large branch fell onto the farm wire and flattened several sections of it.
- barbed wire
wire with sharp points, used for security or containing livestock
- fencing
a general term for any material used to build a fence
- chain-link
a specific type of wire fence with a diamond pattern
文法句型
the wire (referring to a fence)
behind/beyond the wire
用法筆記
Often used with 'the' ('the wire') to mean the whole fence, especially in rural or prison contexts. 'Barbed wire' is a common specific type with sharp points.
常見錯誤
5. the line at the end of a race track that a runner, horse, or vehicle must cross
the line at the end of a race track that a runner, horse, or vehicle must cross to finish the race
The two horses crossed the wire almost at the same time, so officials studied the photo carefully.
crossed the wire — the standard idiom for finishing a race
The crowd cheered loudly as the leading runner hit the wire first.
Marco pushed harder in the final metres and reached the wire just ahead of his rival.
- finish line
the more general and widely understood term for the end of a race
- finishing line
common alternative to 'finish line', especially in British English
文法句型
the wire
cross the wire
hit the wire
用法筆記
Almost always used in the singular with 'the'. Also appears in the idiom 'down to the wire', meaning a contest that is close until the very end.
常見錯誤
wires — verb
- wirespresent simple I / you / we / they
- wireses3rd person singular
- wiresing-ing form
- wiresedpast simple
1. to attach, tie, or fix something firmly in place using a thin piece of metal wir
to attach, tie, or fix something firmly in place using a thin piece of metal wire
Tariq wired the broken fence gate to the post until a proper repair could be done.
wire [object] to [object] — attaching one thing to another
The florist wired the stems together to form a round wedding bouquet.
Eli wired the loose shelf bracket to the wall frame to stop it from wobbling.
The gardener wired the young tree to a wooden stake so the wind would not damage it.
文法句型
wire + object + to/onto/around + object
wire + object + together
用法筆記
Often used with a preposition phrase ('to', 'onto', 'together') that indicates how the object is being secured. The focus is on the physical act of fastening with wire.
常見錯誤
2. to connect a building, room, or piece of equipment to a system of electrical wir
to connect a building, room, or piece of equipment to a system of electrical wires so that electricity can reach it
Daniel wired the new ceiling fan to the junction box in the attic before switching on the power.
wire [device] to [power source] — installation pattern
The technician wired the alarm system to the main control panel in the basement.
Mark spent Saturday afternoon wiring the basement workshop for extra lighting and power outlets.
The new house was wired for both standard electricity and solar panel backup systems.
文法句型
wire + object + to/into/for + object
be wired (up) for [purpose]
用法筆記
Commonly used in the passive form ('the building is wired for...') to describe what electrical systems a place has. The phrasal verb 'wire up' is very common in informal British English.
常見錯誤
3. to transmit a short written message through the telegraph system, a method used
to transmit a short written message through the telegraph system, a method used in earlier times for urgent news or giving instructions
Heather wired her parents to say she had arrived safely in London after the long voyage.
wire + someone + to-infinitive — stating purpose
The company wired the news of the merger to all branch offices across East Asia.
In 1923 explorers still wired their discoveries back to the Royal Geographical Society.
The ambassador wired a formal protest to the foreign ministry after the border incident.
文法句型
wire + someone + that-clause
wire + someone + something
wire + to + someone
用法筆記
Historically this was the fastest way to send written messages before telephones became common. Today this sense is only used when describing past events or in historical fiction.