wing (wĭng)

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[Middle English wenge, winge, of Scandinavian origin.]

noun 

1. One of a pair of movable organs for flying, as the feather-covered modified forelimb of a bird or the skin-covered modified digits of the forelimb of a bat.
2. Any of usually four membranous organs for flying that extend from the thorax of an insect.
3. A winglike organ or structure used for flying, as the folds of skin of a flying squirrel or the enlarged pectoral fin of a flying fish.
4. Botany
   1. A thin or membranous extension, such as of the fruit of the elm, maple, or ash or of the seed of the pine.
   2. One of the lateral petals of the flower of a pea or of most plants in the pea family.
5. Informal An arm of a human.
6. An airfoil whose principal function is providing lift, especially either of two such airfoils symmetrically positioned on each side of the fuselage of an aircraft.
7. Something that resembles a wing in appearance, function, or position relative to a main body.
8. 1. The act or manner of flying.
   2. A means of flight or rapid movement: Fear lent wings to his feet.
9. 1. Something, such as a weathervane, that is moved by or moves against the air.
   2. The sail of a ship.
10. Chiefly British The fender of a motor vehicle.
11. A folding section, as of a double door or of a movable partition.
12. Either of the two side projections on the back of a wing chair.
13. 1. A flat of theatrical scenery projecting onto the stage from the side.
    2. wings. The unseen backstage area on either side of the stage of a proscenium theater.
14. A structure attached to and connected internally with the side of a main building.
15. A section of a large building devoted to a specific purpose: the children's wing of the hospital.
16. A group affiliated with or subordinate to an older or larger organization.
17. 1. Either of two groups with opposing views within a larger group; a faction.
    2. A section of a party, legislature, or community holding distinct, especially dissenting, political views: the conservative wing.
18. 1. Either the left or right flank of an army or a naval fleet.
    2. An air force unit larger than a group but smaller than a division.
19. Sports
    1. Either of the forward positions played near the sideline, especially in hockey.
    2. A player who plays such a position.
20. An outspread pair of stylized bird's wings worn as insignia by qualified pilots or air crew members.

verb: winged, wing·ing, wings. 

intransitive verb 

To move on or as if on wings; fly.

transitive verb 

1. 1. To furnish with wings.
   2. To cause or enable to fly or speed swiftly along.
2. To feather (an arrow).
3. 1. To pass over or through with or as if with wings.
   2. To carry or transport by or as if by flying.
   3. To effect or accomplish by flying.
4. To throw or dispatch (a ball, for example).
5. 1. To wound the wing of (a game bird, for example).
   2. To wound superficially, as in an appendage.
6. To furnish with side or subordinate extensions, as a building or an altarpiece.

idioms

in the wings

In the stage wings, unseen by the audience. Close by in the background; available at short notice: a presidential candidate waiting in the wings.

on the wing

In flight; flying.

take wing

To fly off; soar away.

under (one's) wing

Under one's protection; in one's care.

wing it

To say or do something without preparation, forethought, or sufficient information or experience; improvise: She hadn't studied for the exam, so she decided to wing it.