WIRY (wirier, wiriest)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: wirier    , wiriest   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does wiry mean? 

• WIRY (adjective)
  The adjective WIRY has 3 senses:

1. lean and sinewy

2. of or relating to wire

3. of hair that resembles wire in stiffness

  Familiarity information: WIRY used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WIRY (adjective)

Comparative: wirier   
Superlative: wiriest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lean and sinewy

Synonyms:

stringy; wiry

Similar:

lean; thin (lacking excess flesh)

Derivation:

wiriness (the property of being lean and tough and sinewy)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or relating to wire

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

wire (ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc)

Derivation:

wire (ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Of hair that resembles wire in stiffness

Context example:

wiry red hair

Similar:

haired; hairy; hirsute (having or covered with hair)

 Context examples 

His wiry energy is wonderful in so frail a frame.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It has a harsh, wiry outer coat and dense, soft undercoat that comes in solid black or salt and pepper.

(Giant Schnauzer, NCI Thesaurus)

Holmes had sent on a wire, so that Lestrade, as wiry, as dapper, and as ferret-like as ever, was waiting for us at the station.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The German Wirehaired Pointer has a coarse, wiry, weather-resistant coat with a thick undercoat.

(German Wirehaired Pointer, NCI Thesaurus)

It can reach the size of a small pony and has a rough, shaggy coat and wiry bushy eyebrows.

(Irish Wolfhound, NCI Thesaurus)

The coat is wiry and straight and come in red, wheaten, tan, black and tan, and grizzle - occasionally with white markings.

(Norfolk Terrier, NCI Thesaurus)

Their coats are wiry and straight and come in red, wheaten, tan, black and tan, and grizzle - occasionally with white markings.

(Norwich Terrier, NCI Thesaurus)

Peter was a hard, wiry, brown faced, country-bred lad who looked on the coming war as the schoolboy looks on his holidays.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The rough looking wiry outer jacket is lined with a softer undercoat.

(Irish Terrier, NCI Thesaurus)

The Border Terrier is small terrier with a coarse, wiry double coat and small ears, which fold forward into a "V" shape.

(Border Terrier, NCI Thesaurus)