wire
noun uk/waɪər/ us/waɪr/
(METAL THREAD)
B2 [ C or U ]金属丝;金属线
a piece of thin metal thread that can be bent, used for fastening things and for making particular types of objects that are strong but can bend
a wire fence 金属线栅栏
B2 [ C ]电线;导线
(a piece of) thin metal thread with a layer of plastic around it, used for carrying electric current
Someone had cut the phone wires. 有人切断了电话线。
Don't touch those wires whatever you do. 无论如何都别碰那些导线。
US（尤指藏在衣服内的）窃听器
a secret recording device hidden worn by a person, especially one that is hidden in their clothes
The undercover police officer was wearing a wire during the meeting. 卧底警官身上藏着窃听器参加了会面。
the wire UK（监狱等处的）铁丝网
the wire fence around a prison or prison camp
During the war he spent three years behind the wire (= in prison). 战争期间他蹲了3年监狱。
- More examples
- A wire has come loose at the back.
- The cable has a copper wire surrounded by a plastic sheath.
- The filaments of light bulbs are made from tungsten wire.
- Loose electric wires were dangling from the wall.
- Drill a hole through the back of the cupboard and pass the wires through.
(MESSAGE)
[ C ] US informal电报
a telegram
Idioms
down to the wireidiom 直到最后一刻
until the last moment that it is possible to do something
I think the election will go right down to the wire (= be won at the last moment). 我认为选举结果要到最后一刻才会见分晓。
get your wires crossedidiom 发生误会；误解
When people get their wires crossed, they have a different understanding of the same situation.
Somehow we got our wires crossed because I'd written the 23rd in my diary and Jen had the 16th. 我们误会了，因为我在日记中写的是23日，而珍写的是16日。
under the wireidiom US 在最后关头
If someone does something under the wire, they do it at the last possible moment.
They got in under the wire just before the entry requirements for the training program changed. 他们在招生要求变更前的最后时刻加入了这个培训计划。
wire
verb [ T ] uk/waɪər/ us/waɪr/
(METAL THREAD)
用金属丝捆扎
to fasten two things together using wire
She had her jaws wired together so that she wouldn't be able to eat. 她把上下颌用金属丝捆在一起，这样就不能吃东西了。
(also wire up)为（电子设备）接上电线（或导线）
to connect a piece of electrical equipment with wires so that it will work
The stereo wasn't working because it hadn't been wired up correctly. 立体声音响不响了，因为电线没有接好。
Nearly one home in ten across the country is wired up to receive TV via cable. 该国有近十分之一的家庭通过电缆接收电视信号。
(SEND MESSAGE)
用电报传送；（尤指）电汇
to send money using an electrical communication system
The insurance company wired millions of dollars to its accounts to cover the payments. 保险公司向其账户里电汇了几百万美元以支付该款项。
[ + two objects ] Luckily my father wired me two hundred bucks. 幸运的是，爸爸电汇给我200美元。
mainly US（过去）给…发电报
in the past, to send someone a telegram
Janet wired me to say she'd be here a day later than planned. 珍妮特发电报给我，说她要比计划晚一天到这里。