Reading Theme:
Wing Definition: Bird, Building & Political Uses (3 meaning)
Meaning 1：Flying limb of birds and insects (wing)
wing
/wɪŋ/
n.
The part of a bird or insect that it uses to fly through the air.
Flying limb of birds and insects
➕
/ˈflaɪɪŋ lɪm əv bɜːrdz ænd ˈɪnseks/
n.
The wing is a specialized forelimb or body part used by animals such as birds, bats, and insects to generate lift and thrust for flight.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Old English 'wenge', of Germanic origin; related to flight.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of 'wing' as a 'wind-catching' tool: birds use their wings to catch the wind and fly.
📖 Example
The little boy watched in awe as the butterfly opened its colorful wings and fluttered away in the garden.
The little boy watched in awe as the butterfly opened its colorful wings and fluttered away in the garden.
🔗 Collocations
wing span – The distance from one wingtip to the other
wing flap – The action of moving the wings up and down
wing feather – One of the long feathers on a bird's wing
🔄 Synonyms
🌱 Derivatives
📖 Cultural Story
The word 'wing' derives from Old English 'wenge', sharing roots with Latin 'ventus' (wind), reflecting the connection between flight and air. It symbolizes freedom and aspiration in many cultures.
Meaning 2：Side extension of a building (wing)
wing
/wɪŋ/
n.
A part of a large building that extends from the main part.
Side extension of a building
➕
/saɪd ɪkˈstenʃən əv ə ˈbɪldɪŋ/
n.
A wing of a building is a part that projects from the main structure, often dedicated to a specific purpose like a library or hospital wing.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The university is building a new library wing to house its growing collection of science books.
The university is building a new library wing to house its growing collection of science books.
🔗 Collocations
east wing – The section of a building facing east
hospital wing – A separate section of a hospital for a specific department
new wing – A recently built extension to a building
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
core (n.) – The central or main part of a building
Meaning 3：Faction within an organization (wing)
wing
/wɪŋ/
n.
A group within a larger organization that has particular ideas or aims.
Faction within an organization
➕
/ˈfækʃən wɪðɪn ən ˌɔːrɡənaɪˈzeɪʃən/
n.
A wing of a political party or organization is a group of members with shared ideology, often identified as left, right, or moderate.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The newspaper article analyzed the different opinions between the left-wing and right-wing wings of the political party.
The newspaper article analyzed the different opinions between the left-wing and right-wing wings of the political party.
🔗 Collocations
left wing – The liberal or socialist faction of a party
right wing – The conservative or nationalist faction of a party
radical wing – The extreme faction advocating major changes
Wordbook
Your data is saved in this browser