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Wire vs Harness - What's the difference?

wire | harness |

As nouns the difference between wire and harness

is that wire is (label) metal formed into a thin, even thread, now usually by being drawn through a hole in a steel die while harness is (countable) a restraint or support, especially one consisting of a loop or network of rope or straps.

As verbs the difference between wire and harness

is that wire is to fasten with wire, especially with reference to wine bottles, corks, or fencing while harness is to place a harness on something; to tie up or restrain.

wire

English

Noun

  • (label) Metal formed into a thin, even thread, now usually by being drawn through a hole in a steel die.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-08, volume=407, issue=8839, page=52, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= The new masters and commanders , passage=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.}}
  • A piece of such material; a thread or slender rod of metal, a cable.
  • A metal conductor that carries electricity.
  • A fence made of usually barbed wire.
  • (label) A finish line of a racetrack.
  • (label) A telecommunication wire or cable
  • (label) An electric telegraph; a telegram.
  • (label) A hidden listening device on the person of an undercover operative for the purposes of obtaining incriminating spoken evidence.
  • (label) A deadline or critical endpoint.
  • (label) A wire strung with beads and hung horizontally above or near the table which is used to keep score.

    • Synonyms

    * (thin thread of metal ): cable, steel wire, thread * (metal conductor that carries electricity ): conducting wire * (fencing made of usually barbed wire ): barbed wire * (informal: telegraph''): ''See telegraph * (informal: message transmitted by telegraph''): ''See telegram * (object used to keep the score in billiards) score string

    Derived terms

    * baling wire * barbed wire, barbed-wire * be on the wire * by wire * chicken wire * down to the wire * earthing wire * get one’s wires crossed]], [[have one's wires crossed, have one’s wires crossed * guy wire/guy-wire * haywire * live wire * piano wire * pull wires * pull the wires * razor wire * trawlwire * trip wire * under the wire * wire broadcasting * wire clippers * wire cutter * wire entanglement * wireform * wireless * wire recorder * wire rope * wire transfer * wiretap * wire wool * woven wire * wiry

    See also

    * filament * hawser * cable

    Verb

    (wir)
  • To fasten with wire, especially with reference to wine bottles, corks, or fencing.
  • * 1934 , edition, ISBN 0553278193, page 222:
    • I could see him in his plane flying low over the river or a reservoir, dropping the club out with a chunk of lead wired to the shaft.
  • To string on a wire.
  • To equip with wires for use with electricity.
  • To add something into an electrical system by means of wiring; to incorporate or include something.
    • I'll just wire your camera to the computer screen.
  • (label) To send a message or a money value to another person through a telecommunications system, formerly predominately by telegraph.
  • To make someone tense or psyched up.
  • (label) To install eavesdropping equipment.
  • To snare by means of a wire or wires.

    • Synonyms

    * (to equip for use with electricity ): electrify * (informal: to send a message or a money value to another person through a telecommunications system ): cable, telegraph

    Antonyms

    * (to fasten with wire ): unwire

    Troponyms

    * (to fasten with wire ): rewire * (to equip for use with electricity ): rewire

    Derived terms

    * wire away * wire in * wire into

    Anagrams

    * weir 1000 English basic words

    harness

    English

    Noun

    (es)
  • (countable) A restraint or support, especially one consisting of a loop or network of rope or straps.
  • (countable) A collection of wires or cables bundled and routed according to their function.
  • (dated) The complete dress, especially in a military sense, of a man or a horse; armour in general.
  • * 1606 William Shakespeare, Macbeth , act V, scene V
    • Ring the alarum-bell! Blow, wind! come, wrack!
    At least we'll die with harness on our back.
  • The part of a loom comprising the heddles, with their means of support and motion, by which the threads of the warp are alternately raised and depressed for the passage of the shuttle.

    • Derived terms

    * harnessed antelope * harnessed moth * test harness

    Verb

    (es)
  • To place a harness on something; to tie up or restrain.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author=(Henry Petroski)
    • , title= Geothermal Energy , volume=101, issue=4, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal.}}
  • To capture, control or put to use.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-16, author= John Vidal
    • , volume=189, issue=10, page=8, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Dams endanger ecology of Himalayas , passage=Most of the Himalayan rivers have been relatively untouched by dams near their sources. Now the two great Asian powers, India and China, are rushing to harness them as they cut through some of the world's deepest valleys.}}

    See also

    * (wikipedia "harness") *