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1[uncountable, countable] metal in the form of thin thread; a piece of this a coil of copper wire a wire basket The box was fastened with a rusty wire. see barbed wire, high wire, tripwire
- 2[countable, uncountable] a piece of wire that is used to carry an electric current or signal overhead wires fuse wire The telephone wires had been cut. see hot-wire
- 3the wire [singular] a wire fence Three prisoners escaped by crawling under the wire.
- 4[countable] (informal) = telegram We sent a wire asking him to join us. see wiry Idioms
to become confused about what someone has said to you so that you think they meant something else We seem to have gotten our wires crossed. I thought you were coming on Tuesday.
if you say that a situation goes down to the wire, you mean that the result will not be decided or known until the very end
a person who is lively and full of energy
to use your influence in order to get an advantage for someone
Check pronunciation: wire