Dictionary

wind-up en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈwaɪndˌʌp/ (Canada)

Etymology

Deverbal from wind up.

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) Of a machine, requiring winding up in order to function.
   • Maybe you could get a wind-up toy to distract him. 1997, Daria (TV, episode 1.07)

Forms

Translations (2)

nb trekkopp (needing to be wound up in order to function) · cs natahovací (needing to be wound up in order to function)

wind-up en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈwaɪndˌʌp/ (Canada)

Etymology

Deverbal from wind up.

Meanings

1. The end or conclusion of something.
   • The wind-up is, that the father becomes bankrupt; the wife and daughters town-traders; the sons Greeks, Fancy-swells, Conveyancers (pickpockets), or Cracksmen (house breakers), and the New Drop is the last drop they ever take. 1822, A Morning in Cork-Street: or, Raising the wind, page 102:
   • After this long windup, Smith says, “Is there a question there, your honor?” He says it not in an evasive way, but with a smile. 2017 October 3, Mark Walsh, “A “view” from the courtroom: A big windup on partisan gerrymandering”, in SCOTUSblog:
   • Everyone is invited to our end-of-term wind-up party.
2. The punch line of a joke or comedy routine.
3. (UK) A humorous attempt to fool somebody; a practical joke in which the victim is encouraged to believe something untrue.
   • "Is this a wind-up, or what?" "No, no, it's true. He can really do it." 1999, Whatever Happened to Harold Smith? (film)
4. The phase of making a pitch where the pitcher moves his or her arm backwards before throwing the ball.
   • He's into his wind-up. Here comes the pitch. Strike on the inside corner! 1975: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (movie)
5. A circular hand gesture, supposed to represent the winding on of film, used to signal to a performer to finish quickly.

Forms

Deriveds

wind-up merchant · wind-up radio · wind-up toy

Relateds

wind up

Translations (3)

de Zusammenfassung (end or conclusion of something) · de Streich (humorous attempt to fool somebody) · de Schabernack (humorous attempt to fool somebody)