WAIN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Wain mean? 

• WAIN (noun)
  The noun WAIN has 3 senses:

1. English writer (1925-1994)

2. a group of seven bright stars in the constellation Ursa Major

3. large open farm wagon

  Familiarity information: WAIN used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WAIN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

English writer (1925-1994)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

John Barrington Wain; John Wain; Wain

Instance hypernyms:

author; writer (writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay))

Sense 2

Meaning:

A group of seven bright stars in the constellation Ursa Major

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

Big Dipper; Charles's Wain; Dipper; Plough; Wagon; Wain

Instance hypernyms:

asterism ((astronomy) a cluster of stars (or a small constellation))

Holonyms ("Wain" is a part of...):

Great Bear; Ursa Major (a constellation outside the zodiac that rotates around the North Star)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Large open farm wagon

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("wain" is a kind of...):

waggon; wagon (any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor)

 Context examples 

“The rogue got between me and the nearest French victual wain,” muttered Sir Oliver, amid a fresh titter from those who were near enough to catch his words.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But all went well with us, and the king was taken, and little Robby Withstaff and I fell in with a wain with twelve firkins of wine for the king's own table, and, by my hilt! if you ask me what happened after that, I cannot answer you, nor can little Robby Withstaff either.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)