Library / English Dictionary

WILKINS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

English biochemist who helped discover the structure of DNA (1916-2004)

Synonyms:

Maurice Hugh Frederick Wilkins; Maurice Wilkins; Wilkins

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Instance hypernyms:

biochemist (someone with special training in biochemistry)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Australian who was the first to explore the Arctic by airplane (1888-1958)

Synonyms:

George Hubert Wilkins; Wilkins

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Instance hypernyms:

adventurer; explorer (someone who travels into little known regions (especially for some scientific purpose))

Sense 3

Meaning:

United States civil rights leader (1901-1981)

Synonyms:

Roy Wilkins; Wilkins

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Instance hypernyms:

civil rights activist; civil rights leader; civil rights worker (a leader of the political movement dedicated to securing equal opportunity for members of minority groups)

Credits

 Context examples: 

“On the voyage, I shall endeavour,” said Mr. Micawber, “occasionally to spin them a yarn; and the melody of my son Wilkins will, I trust, be acceptable at the galley-fire. When Mrs. Micawber has her sea-legs on—an expression in which I hope there is no conventional impropriety—she will give them, I dare say, “Little Tafflin”.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I trust, said Mr. Micawber, solemnly, that my son Wilkins will ever bear in mind, that he had infinitely better put his fist in the fire, than use it to handle the serpents that have poisoned the life-blood of his unhappy parent!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Mr. W. being infirm, and it being within the bounds of probability that his decease might lead to some discoveries, and to the downfall of—HEEP'S—power over the W. family,—as I, Wilkins Micawber, the undersigned, assume—unless the filial affection of his daughter could be secretly influenced from allowing any investigation of the partnership affairs to be ever made, the said—HEEP—deemed it expedient to have a bond ready by him, as from Mr. W., for the before-mentioned sum of twelve six fourteen, two and nine, with interest, stated therein to have been advanced by—HEEP—to Mr. W. to save Mr. W. from dishonour; though really the sum was never advanced by him, and has long been replaced.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I have myself directed some attention, during the past week, to the art of baking; and my son Wilkins has issued forth with a walking-stick and driven cattle, when permitted, by the rugged hirelings who had them in charge, to render any voluntary service in that direction—which I regret to say, for the credit of our nature, was not often; he being generally warned, with imprecations, to desist.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)