English

Alternative forms

• windup

Noun

wind-up ‎(plural wind-ups)

1. The end or conclusion of something.

   Everyone is invited to our end-of-term wind-up party.

2. A punch line of a joke or comedy routine.
3. (Britain) A humorous attempt to fool somebody, a practical joke in which the victim is encouraged to believe something untrue.
   • 1999, Whatever Happened to Harold Smith? (film):

     "Is this a wind-up, or what?" "No, no, it's true. He can really do it."

4. (baseball) The phase of a making a pitch where the pitcher moves his or her arm backwards before throwing the ball.
   • 1975: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (movie)

     He's into his wind-up. Here comes the pitch. Strike on the inside corner!

Derived terms

• wind-up merchant

Related terms

• wind up

Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:joke

Adjective

wind-up ‎(not comparable)

1. (of a machine) Needing to be wound up in order to function.
   • 1997, Daria (TV, episode 1.07):

     Maybe you could get a wind-up toy to distract him.

Translations

Anagrams

• upwind