wild Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a wild primitive state untouched by civilization
    natural state; state of nature.
    • he lived in the wild
    • they collected mushrooms in the wild
  2. noun a wild and uninhabited area left in its natural condition
    wilderness.
    • it was a wilderness preserved for the hawks and mountaineers
  3. adjective marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
    • wild talk
    • wild parties
  4. adjective in a natural state; not tamed or domesticated or cultivated
    untamed.
    • wild geese
    • edible wild plants
  5. adjective satellite in a state of extreme emotion
    • wild with anger
    • wild with grief
  6. adjective satellite deviating widely from an intended course
    • a wild bullet
    • he threw a wild pitch
  7. adjective satellite (of colors or sounds) intensely vivid or loud
    violent.
    • a violent clash of colors
    • her dress was a violent red
    • a violent noise
    • wild colors
    • wild shouts
  8. adjective satellite without a basis in reason or fact
    baseless; unwarranted; groundless; idle; unfounded.
    • baseless gossip
    • the allegations proved groundless
    • idle fears
    • unfounded suspicions
    • unwarranted jealousy
  9. adjective satellite talking or behaving irrationally
    raving mad.
    • a raving lunatic
  10. adjective satellite involving risk or danger
    hazardous; risky.
    • skydiving is a hazardous sport
    • extremely risky going out in the tide and fog
    • a wild financial scheme
  11. adjective satellite fanciful and unrealistic; foolish
    fantastic.
    • a fantastic idea of his own importance
  12. adjective satellite located in a dismal or remote area; desolate
    waste; godforsaken.
    • a desert island
    • a godforsaken wilderness crossroads
    • a wild stretch of land
    • waste places
  13. adjective satellite intensely enthusiastic about or preoccupied with
    crazy; gaga; dotty.
    • crazy about cars and racing
    • he is potty about her
  14. adjective satellite without civilizing influences
    savage; barbarian; barbaric; uncivilized; uncivilised.
    • barbarian invaders
    • barbaric practices
    • a savage people
    • fighting is crude and uncivilized especially if the weapons are efficient"-Margaret Meade
    • wild tribes
  15. adjective satellite (of the elements) as if showing violent anger
    furious; raging; angry; tempestuous.
    • angry clouds on the horizon
    • furious winds
    • the raging sea
  16. adverb in an uncontrolled and rampant manner
    rampantly.
    • weeds grew rampantly around here
  17. adverb in a wild or undomesticated manner
    • growing wild
    • roaming wild

WordNet

Wild adjective
Etymology
OE. wilde, AS. wilde; akin to OFries. wilde, D. wild, OS. & OHG. wildi, G. wild, Sw. & Dan. vild, Icel. villr wild, bewildered, astray, Goth. wilpeis wild, and G. & OHG. wild game, deer; of uncertain origin.
Wordforms
comparative Wilder ; superlative Wildest
Definitions
  1. Living in a state of nature; inhabiting natural haunts, as the forest or open field; not familiar with, or not easily approached by, man; not tamed or domesticated; as, a wild boar; a wild ox; a wild cat.
    Winter's not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way. Shak.
  2. Growing or produced without culture; growing or prepared without the aid and care of man; native; not cultivated; brought forth by unassisted nature or by animals not domesticated; as, wild parsnip, wild camomile, wild strawberry, wild honey.
    The woods and desert caves, With wild thyme and gadding vine o'ergrown. Milton.
  3. Desert; not inhabited or cultivated; as, wild land. "To trace the forests wild." Shak.
  4. Savage; uncivilized; not refined by culture; ferocious; rude; as, wild natives of Africa or America.
  5. Not submitted to restraint, training, or regulation; turbulent; tempestuous; violent; ungoverned; licentious; inordinate; disorderly; irregular; fanciful; imaginary; visionary; crazy. "Valor grown wild by pride." Prior. "A wild, speculative project." Swift.
    What are these So withered and so wild in their attire ? Shak.
    With mountains, as with weapons, armed; which makes Wild work in heaven. Milton.
    The wild winds howl. Addison.
    Search then the ruling passion, there, alone The wild are constant, and the cunning known. Pope.
  6. Exposed to the wind and sea; unsheltered; as, a wild roadstead.
  7. Indicating strong emotion, intense excitement, or ewilderment; as, a wild look.
  8. (Naut.) Hard to steer; -- said of a vessel. ✍ Many plants are named by prefixing wild to the names of other better known or cultivated plants to which they a bear a real or fancied resemblance; as, wild allspice, wild pink, etc. See the Phrases below.
Wild noun
Definitions
  1. An uninhabited and uncultivated tract or region; a forest or desert; a wilderness; a waste; as, the wilds of America; the wilds of Africa.
    then Libya first, of all her moisture drained, Became a barren waste, a wild of sand. Addison.
Wild adverb
Definitions
  1. Wildly; as, to talk wild. Shak.

Webster 1913