wound
B2Formal, medical, literary, general
Definition
Meaning
An injury to the body, typically one involving a break in the skin caused by violence or accident.
Emotional or psychological hurt; damage to reputation, pride, or feelings. Also, the past tense and past participle of the verb 'to wind' (meaning to turn, coil, or twist).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is a contranym (auto-antonym) in its verb forms: one verb means 'to inflict injury' and the other (past tense of 'wind') means 'coiled/twisted'. The noun form is almost exclusively for physical or emotional injury.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Pronunciation differs significantly (/wuːnd/ vs /waʊnd/ for the injury noun/verb). Spelling is identical. Usage of the verb 'to wound' (injure) is identical.
Connotations
Both share serious connotations of injury. Slight British preference for the verb in formal contexts for emotional hurt ('His words wounded her deeply').
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties for the injury sense. The past tense of 'wind' (/waɪnd/) is more common in everyday contexts (e.g., 'He wound the clock').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + wound + [Object] (verb)[Subject] + be + wounded + [by/in] + [Instrument/Location]The + wound + [verb]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “lick one's wounds”
- “rub salt in the wound”
- “a wound that won't heal”
- “reopen old wounds”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Metaphorical: 'The merger left deep wounds in the company culture.'
Academic
Used in medical, psychological, and historical texts (e.g., 'battle wounds', 'childhood emotional wounds').
Everyday
Common for physical injuries from accidents or violence; also for emotional hurt.
Technical
Specific in medicine: 'penetrating wound', 'avulsion wound', 'wound care'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The soldier was wounded in the leg.
- His callous remark wounded her pride.
American English
- The hunter wounded the deer but didn't kill it.
- She felt deeply wounded by the betrayal.
adverb
British English
- Not typically used as an adverb.
American English
- Not typically used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The wounded soldier was evacuated.
- He nursed his wounded pride.
American English
- The wounded officer received a medal.
- They addressed the wounded feelings of the community.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He has a wound on his knee.
- She put a bandage on the wound.
- The deep wound took weeks to heal.
- His harsh words wounded her feelings.
- The surgeon carefully cleaned the gunshot wound.
- The scandal opened old political wounds.
- Psychological wounds from childhood can persist into adulthood.
- The treaty was intended to heal the wounds of the conflict.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'wound' (injury) and 'sound' – a bad wound doesn't sound good. For the verb (past of wind), remember: 'I wound up the string' – it has the same 'ow' sound as 'found'.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTIONAL PAIN IS A PHYSICAL WOUND ('Her comment opened an old wound.', 'Time heals all wounds.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating Russian 'рана' as 'wound' for minor cuts/scratches – use 'cut' or 'scratch'.
- Do not confuse with 'wound' as past tense of 'wind' (/waʊnd/) – Russian has no direct equivalent.
- The verb 'to wound' is more severe than Russian 'ранить' in casual contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing the injury 'wound' as /waʊnd/ (like 'found') in British English.
- Using 'wound' for a minor injury (overuse).
- Confusing 'wounded' (injured) with 'winded' (out of breath).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'wound' as the past tense of 'wind'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Wound' usually implies a break in the skin, often by violence. 'Injury' is broader (e.g., broken bone, sprain). 'Hurt' is more general and often less formal for pain or damage.
It's a historical difference in vowel development. British English retained the Middle English long /uː/ sound, while American English underwent a sound change making it identical to the past tense of 'wind'.
Yes, commonly for emotional, psychological, or reputational damage (e.g., 'a wound to his honour', 'the wound of rejection').
Context. If it's about coiling, turning, or concluding something ('wound the clock', 'the road wound uphill'), it's from 'wind'. If it's about damage or injury, it's the noun/verb 'wound'.