wraith /re I θ/ (wraiths ) N‑COUNT A wraith is a ghost. [LITERARY ] □ That child flits about like a wraith.
wran|gle /ræ ŋg ə l/ (wrangles , wrangling , wrangled ) VERB If you say that someone is wrangling with someone over a question or issue, you mean that they have been arguing angrily for quite a long time about it. □ [V + over ] The two sides have spent most of their time wrangling over procedural problems. □ [V + with/over ] A group of MPs is still wrangling with the government over the timing of elections. [Also V ]
wran|gler /ræ ŋglə r / (wranglers ) N‑COUNT A wrangler is a cowboy who works with cattle and horses. [AM ]
wrap ◆◇◇ /ræ p/ (wraps , wrapping , wrapped )
1 VERB When you wrap something, you fold paper or cloth tightly round it to cover it completely, for example in order to protect it or so that you can give it to someone as a present. □ [V n] Harry had carefully bought and wrapped presents for Mark to give them. □ [V n + in ] Mexican Indians used to wrap tough meat in leaves from the papaya tree. ● PHRASAL VERB Wrap up means the same as wrap . □ [V P n] Diana is taking the opportunity to wrap up the family presents. [Also V n P ]
2 N‑UNCOUNT Wrap is the material that something is wrapped in. □ [+ around ] I tucked some plastic wrap around the sandwiches to keep them from getting stale. □ …gift wrap.
3 VERB When you wrap something such as a piece of paper or cloth round another thing, you put it around it. □ [V n + around/over ] She wrapped a handkerchief around her bleeding palm.
4 VERB If someone wraps their arms, fingers, or legs around something, they put them firmly around it. □ [V n + around ] He wrapped his arms around her.
5 → see also wrapping
6 PHRASE If you keep something under wraps , you keep it secret, often until you are ready to announce it at some time in the future. □ The bids were submitted in May and were meant to have been kept under wraps until October.
▸ wrap up
1 PHRASAL VERB If you wrap up , you put warm clothes on. □ [V P adv/adj/prep] Markus has wrapped up warmly in a woolly hat. [Also V P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB If you wrap up something such as a job or an agreement, you complete it in a satisfactory way. □ [V P n] Defense ministers wrap up their meeting in Brussels today. □ [V n P ] Seeing Sticht was keeping him from his golf game, and he hoped they could wrap it up quickly.
3 → see also wrap 1 , wrapped up
wra pped u p ADJ If someone is wrapped up in a particular person or thing, they spend nearly all their time thinking about them, so that they forget about other things which may be important. □ [+ in ] He's too serious and dedicated, wrapped up in his career. [Also + with ]
wrap|per /ræ pə r / (wrappers ) N‑COUNT A wrapper is a piece of paper, plastic, or thin metal which covers and protects something that you buy, especially food. □ I emptied the sweet wrappers from the ashtray.
wrap|ping /ræ p I ŋ/ (wrappings ) N‑VAR Wrapping is something such as paper or plastic which is used to cover and protect something. □ …food wrapping.
wra p|ping pa|per (wrapping papers ) N‑VAR Wrapping paper is special paper which is used for wrapping presents.
wrath /rɒ θ, [AM ] ræ θ/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft with poss] Wrath means the same as anger. [LITERARY ] □ [+ of ] He incurred the wrath of the authorities in speaking out against government injustices.
wreak /riː k/ (wreaks , wreaking , wreaked ) The form wrought can also be used as the past participle. 1 VERB Something or someone that wreaks havoc or destruction causes a great amount of disorder or damage. [JOURNALISM , LITERARY ] □ [V n] Violent storms wreaked havoc on the French Riviera, leaving three dead and dozens injured.
2 VERB If you wreak revenge or vengeance on someone, you do something that will harm them very much to punish them for the harm they have done to you. [JOURNALISM , LITERARY ] □ [V n] He threatened to wreak vengeance on the men who toppled him a year ago.
3 → see also wrought
wreath /riː θ/ (wreaths )
1 N‑COUNT A wreath is an arrangement of flowers and leaves, usually in the shape of a circle, which you put on a grave or by a statue to show that you remember a person who has died or people who have died. □ [+ of ] The coffin lying before the altar was bare, except for a single wreath of white roses.
2 N‑COUNT A wreath is a circle of leaves or flowers which someone wears around their head.
3 N‑COUNT A wreath is a circle of leaves which some people hang on the front door of their house at Christmas.
wreathe /riː ð/ (wreathes , wreathing , wreathed )
1 VERB If something is wreathed in smoke or mist, it is surrounded by it. [LITERARY ] □ [be V -ed + in ] The ship was wreathed in smoke. □ [V n] Fog wreathes the temples.
2 VERB [usu passive] If something is wreathed with flowers or leaves, it has a circle or chain of flowers or leaves put round it. □ [be V -ed + with/in ] Its huge columns were wreathed with laurel and magnolia.
wreck /re k/ (wrecks , wrecking , wrecked )
1 VERB To wreck something means to completely destroy or ruin it. □ [V n] A coalition could have defeated the government and wrecked the treaty. □ [V n] His life has been wrecked by the tragedy. □ [V -ed] …missed promotions, lost jobs, wrecked marriages.