wretch|ed /re tʃ I d/
1 ADJ You describe someone as wretched when you feel sorry for them because they are in an unpleasant situation or have suffered unpleasant experiences. [FORMAL ] □ These wretched people had seen their homes going up in flames.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use wretched to describe someone or something that you dislike or feel angry with. [INFORMAL , FEELINGS ] □ Of course this wretched woman was unforgivably irresponsible.
3 ADJ Someone who feels wretched feels very unhappy. [FORMAL ] □ I feel really confused and wretched.
wrig|gle /r I g ə l/ (wriggles , wriggling , wriggled )
1 VERB If you wriggle or wriggle part of your body, you twist and turn with quick movements, for example because you are uncomfortable. □ [V ] The babies are wriggling on their tummies. □ [V n] She pulled off her shoes and stockings and wriggled her toes.
2 VERB If you wriggle somewhere, for example through a small gap, you move there by twisting and turning your body. □ [V adv/prep] He clutched the child tightly as she again tried to wriggle free. □ [V adv/prep] Bauman wriggled into the damp coverall.
▸ wriggle out of PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone has wriggled out of doing something, you disapprove of the fact that they have managed to avoid doing it, although they should have done it. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V P P n] The Government has tried to wriggle out of any responsibility for providing childcare for working parents. [Also V P P v-ing]
wring /r I ŋ/ (wrings , wringing , wrung )
1 VERB If you wring something out of someone, you manage to make them give it to you even though they do not want to. □ [V n + out of/from ] Buyers use different ruses to wring free credit out of their suppliers.
2 PHRASE If someone wrings their hands , they hold them together and twist and turn them, usually because they are very worried or upset about something. You can also say that someone is wringing their hands when they are expressing sorrow that a situation is so bad but are saying that they are unable to change it. □ The Government has got to get a grip. Wringing its hands and saying it is a world problem just isn't good enough.
▸ wring out PHRASAL VERB When you wring out a wet cloth or a wet piece of clothing, you squeeze the water out of it by twisting it strongly. □ [V P n] He turned away to wring out the wet shirt. □ [V n P ] Soak a small towel in the liquid, wring it out, then apply to the abdomen.
wring|er /r I ŋə r / PHRASE If you say that someone has been put through the wringer or has gone through the wringer , you mean that they have suffered a very difficult or unpleasant experience. [INFORMAL ]
wrin|kle /r I ŋk ə l/ (wrinkles , wrinkling , wrinkled )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Wrinkles are lines which form on someone's face as they grow old. □ His face was covered with wrinkles.
2 VERB When someone's skin wrinkles or when something wrinkles it, lines start to form in it because the skin is getting old or damaged. □ [V ] The skin on her cheeks and around her eyes was beginning to wrinkle. □ [V n] …protection against the sun's rays that age and wrinkle the skin. ● wrin|kled ADJ □ I did indeed look older and more wrinkled than ever.
3 N‑COUNT A wrinkle is a raised fold in a piece of cloth or paper that spoils its appearance. □ [+ in ] He noticed a wrinkle in her stocking.
4 VERB If cloth wrinkles , or if someone or something wrinkles it, it gets folds or lines in it. □ [V ] Her stockings wrinkled at the ankles. □ [V n] I wrinkled the velvet. ● wrin|kled ADJ □ His suit was wrinkled and he looked very tired.
5 VERB When you wrinkle your nose or forehead, or when it wrinkles , you tighten the muscles in your face so that the skin folds. □ [V n] Frannie wrinkled her nose at her daughter. □ [V ] Ellen's face wrinkles as if she is about to sneeze.
wrin|kly /r I ŋkli/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A wrinkly surface has a lot of wrinkles on it. □ …wrinkly cotton and wool stockings.
wrist /r I st/ (wrists ) N‑COUNT Your wrist is the part of your body between your hand and your arm which bends when you move your hand.
wrist|watch /r I stwɒtʃ/ (wristwatches ) N‑COUNT A wristwatch is a watch with a strap which you wear round your wrist.
writ /r I t/ (writs ) N‑COUNT A writ is a legal document that orders a person to do a particular thing. □ [+ against ] He issued a writ against one of his accusers. [Also + for ]
write ◆◆◆ /ra I t/ (writes , writing , wrote , written )
1 VERB When you write something on a surface, you use something such as a pen or pencil to produce words, letters, or numbers on the surface. □ [V n adv/prep] If you'd like one, simply write your name and address on a postcard and send it to us. □ [V ] They were still trying to teach her to read and write. □ [V n] He wrote the word 'pride' in huge letters on the blackboard.
2 VERB If you write something such as a book, a poem, or a piece of music, you create it and record it on paper or perhaps on a computer. □ [V n] I had written quite a lot of orchestral music in my student days. □ [V n] Finding a volunteer to write the computer program isn't a problem. □ [V n + for ] Thereafter she wrote articles for papers and magazines in Paris. □ [V n n] Jung Lu wrote me a poem once.
3 VERB Someone who writes creates books, stories, or articles, usually for publication. □ [V ] Jay wanted to write. □ [V + for ] She writes for many papers, including the Sunday Times.