collocations.org

Collocations for wire - noun

1. metal as thin thread

ADJ.

taut, tight | loose, slack | fine, thin | thick | flexible, soft | stiff | rusty | barbed, chicken (= wire mesh used to make fences), razor | piano | perimeter | trip (also ‘tripwire’)
The bomb was attached to a tripwire laid across the road.
high
(= in a circus) One man rode a bicycle along the high wire as the climax to the act.

QUANT.

length, piece, strand

VERB + WIRE

cut
They cut the perimeter wire and escaped.
stretch
The wire was stretched between two poles.

WIRE + NOUN

grill, mesh, netting | basket, brush, cage, coat hanger, fence, fencing, frame, rack
Cool the cakes on a wire rack.
cutters (also ‘wire-cutters’)

PREP.

behind a/the ~
Behind the wire, the prisoners were exercising.
under a/the ~
We got in under the wire.

2. for electricity

ADJ.

electric, electrical, electricity
Don''t place carpets over electrical wires. | overhead electricity wires
earth, live, neutral
Don''t touch that wire. It''s live.
overhead | telegraph, telephone | fuse | bare, exposed
Watch out for bare wires.
insulated, plastic-coated, plastic-covered | frayed

VERB + WIRE

attach, connect
The wire was attached to a pin in the plug.
disconnect
He disconnected the wire from the clock.
run
The electrician ran a wire from the kitchen to the bedroom.

WIRE + VERB

go, lead, run, trail
Where does this wire go? | There were wires trailing everywhere.
show
Surely the wires shouldn''t show like that?

PREP.

along a/the ~
the flow of electrical currents along a wire
down a/the ~
A dry laugh echoed down the telephone wire.

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