wing

One of the parts on a bird, bat, or insect that it uses to fly.

• The bird has a broken wing.
• A butterfly landed with its wings open.
• The bats flapped their wings above us.

Common phrases: bird wing, spread a wing, wing feathers

One of the large flat parts on the sides of an aircraft that help it stay in the air.

• I could see the wing from my seat.
• Ice formed on the aircraft’s wings.
• The plane landed safely despite its damaged wing.

Common phrases: plane wing, aircraft wing, wing tip

A section of a large building that extends to one side of the main part.

• Her room is in the west wing.
• The hospital opened a new wing yesterday.
• Which wing contains the paintings?

How to use it: wing of something (The offices occupy the north wing of the building.)

Similar words: annex, extension

Common phrases: east wing, hospital wing, wing of something

A part of a political party or organization whose members share particular views.

• He supports the party’s left wing.
• The moderate wing opposed the new policy.
• Both wings agreed to support their leader.

How to use it: wing of something (She belongs to the liberal wing of the party.)

Similar words: faction

Common phrases: left wing, right wing, moderate wing

The act of flying, especially when a bird leaves the ground.

• The birds took wing at dawn.
• We watched the swallows on the wing.
• At our approach, the whole flock took wing.

Similar words: flight

Common phrases: take wing, on the wing

To do or say something without preparing, deciding what to do as you go.

• I will just wing it.
• She winged it during the interview.
• Can you wing it without a script?

How to use it: wing it (I have no notes, so I will wing it.)

Similar words: improvise

Common phrases: wing it, just wing it, wing a presentation

To fly through the air, often in a particular direction.

• Gulls winged across the bay.
• The birds are winging their way home.
• A lone eagle winged overhead.

How to use it: wing one’s way somewhere (The geese winged their way south.)

Similar words: fly

Common phrases: wing across something, wing south, wing home