Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

2 VERB If you widen something or if it widens , it becomes greater in range or it affects a larger number of people or things. □ [V n] U.S. prosecutors have widened a securities-fraud investigation. □ [V ] The search for my brother widened.

3 VERB If your eyes widen , they open more. □ [V ] His eyes widened as he spoke the words.

4 VERB If a difference or gap widens or if something widens it, it becomes greater. □ [V ] Wage differences in the two areas are widening. □ [V n] …policies that widen the gap between the rich and the poor.

wi de-ra nging ADJ If you describe something as wide-ranging , you mean it deals with or affects a great variety of different things. □  …a package of wide-ranging economic reforms.

wide|screen /wa I dskriːn/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A widescreen television has a screen that is wide in relation to its height.

wide|spread ◆◇◇ /wa I dspred/ ADJ Something that is widespread exists or happens over a large area, or to a great extent. □  There is widespread support for the new proposals.

widg|et /w I dʒ I t/ (widgets )

1 N‑COUNT You can refer to any small device as a widget when you do not know exactly what it is or how it works. [INFORMAL ] □  The secret is a little widget in the can.

2 N‑COUNT A widget is a small computer program that you can use on a personal computer or mobile phone. [COMPUTING ] □  If you want to follow all the videos, you can do so by adding this widget to your blog.

wid|ow /w I doʊ/ (widows ) N‑COUNT A widow is a woman whose spouse has died and who has not married again.

wid|owed /w I doʊd/ V-PASSIVE If someone is widowed , their husband or wife dies. □ [be V -ed] More and more young men are widowed by cancer. □ [V -ed] Imogen stayed with her widowed sister.

wid|ow|er /w I doʊə ^r / (widowers ) N‑COUNT A widower is a man whose spouse has died and who has not married again.

wid|ow|hood /w I doʊhʊd/ N‑UNCOUNT Widowhood is the state of being a widow or widower, or the period of time during which someone is a widow or widower. □  Nothing can prepare you for the shock and grief of widowhood.

width /w I dθ/ (widths )

1 N‑VAR The width of something is the distance it measures from one side or edge to the other. □ [+ of ] Measure the full width of the window. □  The road was reduced to 18ft in width by adding parking bays. □  Saddles are made in a wide range of different widths.

2 N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] The width of something is its quality of being wide. □  The best utensil for steaming is a wok because its width easily accommodates a whole fish.

3 N‑COUNT A width is the distance from one side of a swimming pool to the other. □  We swam several widths.

wield /wiː ld/ (wields , wielding , wielded )

1 VERB If you wield a weapon, tool, or piece of equipment, you carry and use it. □ [V n] …a lone assailant wielding a kitchen knife.

2 VERB If someone wields power, they have it and are able to use it. □ [V n] He remains chairman, but wields little power at the company.

wie|nie /wiː ni/ (wienies ) also weenie N‑COUNT Wienies are sausages made from smoked beef or pork. [AM ]

wife ◆◆◆ /wa I f/ (wives )

1 N‑COUNT [usu with poss] Someone's wife is the woman they are married to. □  He married his wife Jane 37 years ago. □ [+ of ] The woman was the wife of a film director.

2 → see also old wives' tale COLLOCATIONS wife NOUN 1

adjective + wife : beloved, dear, loving; first, former, future, second; estranged

verb + wife : marry, meet; leave