wand

noun

ˈwänd How to pronounce wand (audio)
1
: a slender staff carried in a procession : verge
2
: a slender rod used by conjurers and magicians
3
: a slat six feet by two inches used as a target in archery
also : a narrow strip of paper pasted vertically on a target face
4
: any of various pipelike devices
especially : the rigid tube between the hose and the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner
5
: a handheld device used to enter information (as from a bar code) into a computer

Examples of wand in a Sentence

The cashier used a wand to scan the bar code.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The car was also equipped with the turn signal of the day, which was a lighted wand from door pillars pointing in the direction the driver planned to turn. — David Krumboltz, The Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2025 How many spell locations are there for interactive wands? — Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025 Biotin, collagen, and peptides team up for your longest, fullest fan-out yet, thanks in part to the super precise wand. — Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 7 Feb. 2025 But none of these holds an illuminated marshalling wand to the primary cause of the ATC shortage: how the FAA manages training and certification. — Ryan Craig, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wand

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, slender stick, from Old Norse vǫndr; probably akin to Old English windan to wind, twist — more at wind entry 3

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of wand was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing wand

Rhymes for wand

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Browse Nearby Words

wand
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Cite this Entry

“Wand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wand. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

wand

noun
ˈwänd How to pronounce wand (audio)
1
: a slender rod used in performing magic
2
: a light rod or tube

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