wings

Everyday

1. Wings are the body parts a bird, bat or insect moves to fly. tree →
2. Wings are the long flat parts sticking out from the sides of an aeroplane. tree →
3. A wing is a part of a building that sticks out from the main part. tree →
4. The wings of a stage are the hidden sides where actors wait. tree →
5. In sports, the wings are the sides of the pitch, and a winger plays there. tree →
6. To try your wings means to start doing something new on your own for the first time. tree →

In the lessons

In science, birds, bats and insects have wings, but they are built differently; most birds use feathers, bats have skin stretched over long fingers, and insects have thin wings; some birds like penguins and ostriches cannot fly. In stories and sayings: «take someone under your wing» means to look after them; «spread your wings» means to try new things. Phrases: chicken wings, wait in the wings, on the wing.

Examples

• The bird flapped its wings and flew away. tree →
• Butterflies have colourful wings. tree →
• The plane's wings are very long. tree →
• Penguins have wings but cannot fly. tree →
• A bat's wings are made of skin. tree →
• The hospital has a new children's wing. tree →
• The actors waited in the wings. tree →
• The older girl took me under her wing on my first day. tree →
• I want to try my wings.” tree →

Note

Singular: wing. Insects usually have four wings (flies have two); birds have two. Maths: counting problems like «5 birds have how many wings?» → 5 x 2 = 10.

In Jewish tradition

Wings are the cherubim's wings over the ark-cover and the "eagles' wings" of God's care. The prophets and psalms also use wings for the winged creatures Ezekiel saw in his vision, and for a land "of the buzzing of wings".

Interpretation. The cherubim's wings over the ark-cover show a holy guarding presence. "Eagles' wings" is read as God's gentle, strong care in carrying Israel out of Egypt. Ezekiel's four-winged living creatures are read as part of God's heavenly chariot.

Examples

• Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself. (Torah EXO.19.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• As an eagle that stirreth up her nest, hovereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her pinions — (Torah DEU.32.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the cherubim spread out their wings on high, screening the ark-cover with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the ark-cover were the faces of the cherubim. (Torah EXO.37.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• Doth the hawk soar by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? (Writings JOB.39.26, JPS 1917) tree →
• Ah, land of the buzzing of wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia; (Prophets ISA.18.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• And every one had four faces, and every one of them had four wings. (Prophets EZK.1.6, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Singular: wing. Insects usually have four wings (flies have two); birds have two. Maths: counting problems like «5 birds have how many wings?» → 5 x 2 = 10.