wire

1. (uncountable) Metal formed into a thin, even thread, now usually by being drawn through a hole in a steel die.Examples: "Holonyms: cable; wiring harness; wire wool"; "From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much. Those entering it are greeted by wire fences, walls dating back to colonial times and security posts. For mariners leaving the port after lonely nights on the high seas, the delights of the B52 Night Club and Stallion Pub lie a stumble away."Synonyms: cable, steel wire, threaduncountable

2. (sports) A finish line of a racetrack.countableuncountable

3. (informal) A telecommunication wire or cable.Examples: "The episode began by a telephone ring in the morning and the voice of Algernon Mailey at the far end of the wire."countableinformaluncountable

4. (by extension) An electric telegraph; a telegram.Examples: "Another letter. "Friedrichswerks, Hamburg, Germany. We beg to acknowledge receipt of order for fifteen thousand Robots." [Telephone rings.] Hello! This is the Central Office. Yes. Certainly. Well, send them a wire. Good. [Hangs up telephone.] Where did I leave off?"; "“Oh, hadn’t I told you?” the other said quickly. “I had a wire yesterday. He landed in New York Wednesday. It was such a mixed-up sort of message, I never could understand what he was trying to tell me, except that he would have to stay in New York for a week or so. It was over fifty words long.”"Synonyms: telegraph, telegrambroadlycountableuncountable

5. (slang) A hidden listening device on the person of an undercover operative for the purposes of obtaining incriminating spoken evidence.countableslanguncountable

6. (informal) A deadline or critical endpoint.Examples: "This election is going to go right to the wire"; "If you don't surrender now, it's gonna go down to the wire"countableinformaluncountable