A wife is a woman who has a husband. She is married and lives with her husband. We often use wife to talk about married women.
Her wife is kind and loving.
He spoke about his wife at work.
In farming or animal care, a wife means a female animal that has babies or is used to have babies. This use is less common but important in animal breeding.
The farmer has five cows and one wife.
The dog's wife had many puppies.
Sometimes wife refers to a woman who manages the house and family, especially in traditional cultures or older times. This meaning focuses on her role at home rather than marriage alone.
The wife cooks and cleans every day.
In the past, a wife stayed at home more.
In informal speech, wife can mean a woman who is a close partner or permanent companion, even if not legally married. It can be used jokingly to show affection or closeness.
My best friend is like a wife to me.
He calls his female dog his wife.
Historically, wife was used as a verb meaning 'to marry a woman'. It is now very rare and mostly seen in old or literary texts.
He wifed a woman from the village.
In old books, men sometimes wife young women.
In some technical or engineering contexts, wife can refer to a female fitting or part that connects to a male part. This use is specialized and uncommon.
Attach the wife to the male connector tightly.
The pipe's wife part holds it secure.
In certain areas, especially in older or dialect speech, wife means any woman or girl, not only a married woman. This meaning is regional and informal.
That wife over there is my cousin.
The wife said hello to us.
