wilt

¹

[wilt]

verb (used without object)

1. to become limp and drooping, as a fading flower; wither.

2. to lose strength, vigor, assurance, etc..

   to wilt after a day's hard work.

   Synonyms: weaken, ebb, droop, wane

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to wilt.

noun

1. the act of wilting, or the state of being wilted.

   a sudden wilt of interest in the discussion.

2. Plant Pathology.

   1. the drying out, drooping, and withering of the leaves of a plant due to inadequate water supply, excessive transpiration, or vascular disease.

   2. a disease so characterized, as fusarium wilt.

3. a virus disease of various caterpillars, characterized by the liquefaction of body tissues.

wilt

²

[wilt]

verb

Archaic.

1. second person singular present indicative of will.

wilt

¹

/ wɪlt /

verb

1. to become or cause to become limp, flaccid, or drooping

   insufficient water makes plants wilt

2. to lose or cause to lose courage, strength, etc

3. (tr) to cook (a leafy vegetable) very briefly until it begins to collapse

noun

1. the act of wilting or state of becoming wilted

2. any of various plant diseases characterized by permanent wilting, usually caused by fungal parasites attacking the roots

wilt

²

/ wɪlt /

verb

1. archaic,  a singular form of the present tense (indicative mood) of will 1

Word History and Origins

Origin of wilt¹

First recorded in 1685–95; dialectal variant of wilk “to wither,” itself variant of welk, Middle English welken, probably from Middle Dutch welken; compare German welk “withered”

Word History and Origins

Origin of wilt¹

C17: perhaps variant of wilk to wither, from Middle Dutch welken

Example Sentences

Nearly all their leaves have wilted or fallen off, creating the bed of dead leaves we’re on now.

Read more on Literature

Also subtlety: The musical wilts under the weight of its many bombastic numbers and passages of clichéd dialogue.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It was wilting under the weather and the weight of a team from Iowa.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The intense humidity wilted the $20 breakfast receipt in my pocket, but the orchids and plumeria around me were thriving.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In Latin America, economic reform mandates often wilt by halftime.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• cave in 
• diminish 
• droop 
• dwindle 
• ebb 
• fade 
• faint 
• melt 
• shrivel 
• succumb 
• wane 
• wither