wolf
any of several large carnivorous mammals of the genus Canis, of the dog family Canidae, especially C. lupus, usually hunting in packs, formerly common throughout the Northern Hemisphere but now chiefly restricted to the more unpopulated parts of its range.
the fur of any of several large carnivorous mammals of the genus Canis, especially C. lupus.
any of various animals of different families that are similar to C. lupus, such as the thylacine.
Wolf, Astronomy. the constellation Lupus.
the larva of any of various small insects infesting granaries.
a cruelly rapacious person.
Informal. a man who makes amorous advances to many women.
Music.
the harsh discord heard in certain chords of keyboard instruments, especially the organ, when tuned on some system of unequal temperament.
a chord or interval in which harsh discord appears when tuned on some system of unequal temperament.
(in bowed instruments) a discordant or false vibration in a string due to a defect in structure or adjustment of the instrument.
to devour voraciously (often followed by down): He wolfed his food.
to hunt for wolves.
Idioms about wolf
cry wolf, to give a false alarm: Is she really sick or is she just crying wolf?
keep the wolf from the door, to avert poverty or starvation; provide sufficiently for: Their small inheritance kept the wolf from the door.
throw (someone or something) to the wolves / dogs, Informal. to place or leave in a bad situation with no assistance, especially in order to protect oneself: The coach threw his rookie players to the wolves following their embarrassing loss.
wolf in sheep's clothing, a person who conceals evil intentions or character beneath an innocent exterior.
Origin of wolf
1Other words from wolf
- wolflike, adjective
Words Nearby wolf
Other definitions for Wolf (2 of 2)
Baron Christian von. Christian von Wolff.
Frie·drich Au·gust [free-drikh-ou-goost], /ˈfri drɪx ˈaʊ gʊst/, 1759–1824, German classical scholar.
Hu·go [hoo-goh], /ˈhu goʊ/, 1860–1903, Austrian composer.
a male given name.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use wolf in a sentence
After Murphy sent the HTA around to top officials like wolf and Cuccinelli, he was told shortly afterward that “further distribution of the HTA was prohibited” because of concerns those two men had.
wolf apparently looked to bar Murphy from future meetings on the subject, and the notification was completed without Murphy’s input.
Cooling to near-death temperatures lets the hummingbirds save precious energy, allowing them to survive the cold night and gear up to feed the next day, wolf says.
This hummingbird survives cold nights by nearly freezing itself solid | Jonathan Lambert | September 8, 2020 | Science NewsTorpor had been observed before in hummingbirds, but wolf and his colleagues wanted a more detailed picture.
This hummingbird survives cold nights by nearly freezing itself solid | Jonathan Lambert | September 8, 2020 | Science NewsCompetitive eaters scarf food at a rate that bests that of grizzly bears and coyotes, Smoliga finds, although wolves lead the pack.
When it comes to downing hot dogs, science says there’s a limit | Jonathan Lambert | August 7, 2020 | Science News For Students
It reminded me a bit of an alternative take on The wolf of Wall Street—through the Toni and Candace lens.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness | Marlow Stern | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST“During this trip, I did as a lone wolf, I risked a lot,” he said.
Pope-Shooter Ali Agca’s Very Weird Vatican Visit | Barbie Latza Nadeau | December 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHis later books drew heavily from experiences and people he encountered at the bar, including the cruel captain in The Sea-wolf.
The wolf of Wall Street is a dangerous, incendiary work of art.
Coffee Talk with Ethan Hawke: On ‘Boyhood,’ Jennifer Lawrence, and Bill Clinton’s Urinal Exchange | Marlow Stern | December 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTwolf concurs that the conceit of the show seems to have everyone but the sex worker in mind.
To Catch a Sex Worker: A&E’s Awful, Exploitative Ambush Show | Samantha Allen | December 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe heard Mohammedans alluding to a Brahmin as a leader—so might a wolf and a snake make common alliance against a watch dog.
The Red Year | Louis TracyIt was a hard struggle; for the wolf pulled poor Amy one way, and Alan pulled her the other; but at length Alan won the day.
The Nursery, July 1873, Vol. XIV. No. 1 | VariousThe affair of the wolf having passed off so well, Alan began to bethink himself of other adventures.
The Nursery, July 1873, Vol. XIV. No. 1 | Various“He hath told us already, Princess,” said the other, his harsh accents sounding more like the snarl of a wolf than a human voice.
The Red Year | Louis TracyIn all savage races it has been recognised and dreaded, this phenomenon styled 'Wehr wolf,' but to-day it is rare.
Three More John Silence Stories | Algernon Blackwood
British Dictionary definitions for wolf (1 of 2)
/ (wʊlf) /
a predatory canine mammal, Canis lupus, which hunts in packs and was formerly widespread in North America and Eurasia but is now less common: See also timber wolf Related adjective: lupine
any of several similar and related canines, such as the red wolf and the coyote (prairie wolf)
the fur of any such animal
Tasmanian wolf another name for the thylacine
a voracious, grabbing, or fiercely cruel person or thing
informal a man who habitually tries to seduce women
informal the destructive larva of any of various moths and beetles
Also called: wolf note music
an unpleasant sound produced in some notes played on the violin, cello, etc, owing to resonant vibrations of the belly
an out-of-tune effect produced on keyboard instruments accommodated esp to the system of mean-tone temperament: See temperament (def. 4)
cry wolf to give a false alarm
keep the wolf from the door to ward off starvation or privation
lone wolf a person or animal who prefers to be alone
throw to the wolves to abandon or deliver to destruction
wolf in sheep's clothing a malicious person in a harmless or benevolent disguise
(tr often foll by down) to gulp (down)
(intr) to hunt wolves
Origin of wolf
1Derived forms of wolf
- wolfish, adjective
- wolflike, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for Wolf (2 of 2)
/ (German vɔlf) /
Friedrich August (ˈfriːdrɪç ˈauɡʊst). 1759–1824, German classical scholar, who suggested that the Homeric poems, esp the Iliad, are products of an oral tradition
Hugo (ˈhuːɡo). 1860–1903, Austrian composer, esp of songs, including the Italienisches Liederbuch and the Spanisches Liederbuch
(wʊlf) Howlin'. See Howlin' Wolf
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with wolf
In addition to the idiom beginning with wolf
- wolf in sheep's clothing
also see:
- cry wolf
- keep the wolf from the door
- lone wolf
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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