Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

wan|der|ing /wɒ ndər I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] Wandering is used to describe people who travel around rather than staying in one place for a long time. [LITERARY ] □  …a band of wandering musicians.

wan|der|ings /wɒ ndər I ŋz/ N‑PLURAL [usu with poss] Someone's wanderings are journeys that they make from place to place without staying in one place for a long time. □  On his wanderings he's picked up Spanish, Italian, French and a smattering of Russian.

wan|der|lust /wɒ ndə ^r lʌst/ N‑UNCOUNT Someone who has wanderlust has a strong desire to travel. □  His wanderlust would not allow him to stay long in one spot.

wane /we I n/ (wanes , waning , waned )

1 VERB If something wanes , it becomes gradually weaker or less, often so that it eventually disappears. □ [V ] While his interest in these sports began to wane, a passion for rugby developed. □ [V -ing] …her mother's waning strength.

2wax and wane → see wax

3 PHRASE If something is on the wane , it is becoming weaker or less. □  In 1982, with his career prospects on the wane, he sold a script for £5,000.

4 VERB [usu cont] When the moon is waning , it is showing a smaller area of brightness each day as it changes from a full moon to a new moon. □ [V ] The moon was waning, and each day it rose later.

wan|gle /wæ ŋg ^ə l/ (wangles , wangling , wangled ) VERB If you wangle something that you want, you manage to get it by being clever or persuading someone. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] We managed to wangle a few days' leave. □ [V n] He had wangled his way into the country without a visa. □ [V n n] I asked the Captain to wangle us three tickets to Athens. □ [V n + for ] Amanda had wangled a job for Robyn with the council.

wank /wæ ŋk/ (wanks , wanking , wanked ) VERB To wank means to masturbate. [BRIT , VERY RUDE ] ● N‑SING Wank is also a noun.

wank|er /wæ ŋkə ^r / (wankers ) N‑COUNT If someone calls a man a wanker , they do not like him and they think he is very stupid or unpleasant. [BRIT , VERY RUDE , DISAPPROVAL ]

wan|na /wɒ nə/ Wanna is used in written English to represent the words 'want to' when they are pronounced informally. □  I wanna be married to you. Do you wanna be married to me?

wanna|be /wɒ nəbiː/ (wannabes ) also wannabee N‑COUNT [usu n N , N n] If you call someone a wannabe , you are saying in an unkind way that they are trying very hard to be like another person or group of people. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □  …a feeble James Dean wannabe.

want ◆◆◆ /wɒ nt/ (wants , wanting , wanted )

1 VERB [no cont, no passive] If you want something, you feel a desire or a need for it. □ [V n] I want a drink. □ [V n] Ian knows exactly what he wants in life. □ [V to-inf] People wanted to know who this talented designer was. □ [V n to-inf] They began to want their father to be the same as other daddies. □ [V n v-ing] They didn't want people staring at them as they sat on the lawn, so they put up high walls. □ [V n -ed] He wanted his power recognised. □ [V n n] I want my car this colour. □ [V n adj/prep] And remember, we want him alive.

2 VERB [no cont, no passive] You can say that you want to say something to indicate that you are about to say it. □ [V to-inf] Look, I wanted to apologize for today. I think I was a little hard on you.

3 VERB [no cont, no passive] You use want in questions as a way of making an offer or inviting someone to do something. □ [V n] Do you want another cup of coffee? □ [V to-inf] Do you want to leave your bike here?