a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
"The injured bird struggled to take off because its left wing was broken."
one of the horizontal airfoils on either side of the fuselage of an airplane
"The pilot adjusted the left wing to correct the plane's roll during turbulence."
a unit of military aircraft
"The general ordered his entire wing to launch an immediate airstrike on the enemy positions."
a hockey player stationed in a forward position on either side
"The left wing broke away from defense to score an empty-netter in the final minute of overtime."
(in flight formation) a position to the side and just to the rear of another aircraft
"The lead pilot signaled for his wingman to tighten up behind him as they approached the target."
a group within a political party or legislature or other organization that holds distinct views or has a particular function
"they are the progressive wing of the Republican Party"
An appendage of an animal's (bird, bat, insect) body that enables it to fly
"The injured eagle struggled to lift its heavy wing before finally gaining altitude."
In plain English: A wing is a side part of a building that sticks out from the main section.
"The chef decided to prepare both wings and drumsticks for the game day feast."
To injure slightly (as with a gunshot), especially in the wing or arm.
"After the ambush, several soldiers were sent to the field hospital because they had been lightly wounded in the arm by stray bullets."
In plain English: To wing something means to hit it with a light blow using your hand or an object.
"The chef will wing the chicken before grilling it for dinner."
Usage: Use this verb to describe lightly wounding someone, typically by gunfire, rather than causing severe injury. It is often used colloquially when referring specifically to damage sustained in an upper limb during combat.
A surname.
"The local bakery is owned by someone named Wing, and their pastries are famous in town."
The word wing comes from Old Norse via Middle English and originally referred to the wing of a flying animal or a building. Its ultimate roots trace back to a Proto-Indo-European term for "to blow," linking it closely to the concept of wind.