wilt
1[ wilt ]
/ wɪlt /
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verb (used without object)
to become limp and drooping, as a fading flower; wither.
to lose strength, vigor, assurance, etc.: to wilt after a day's hard work.
verb (used with object)
to cause to wilt.
noun Also wilt disease (for defs. 5b).
the act of wilting, or the state of being wilted: a sudden wilt of interest in the discussion.
Plant Pathology.
- the drying out, drooping, and withering of the leaves of a plant due to inadequate water supply, excessive transpiration, or vascular disease.
- a disease so characterized, as fusarium wilt.
a virus disease of various caterpillars, characterized by the liquefaction of body tissues.
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Origin of wilt
1First 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”
Other definitions for wilt (2 of 2)
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use wilt in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for wilt (1 of 2)
wilt1
/ (wɪlt) /
verb
to become or cause to become limp, flaccid, or droopinginsufficient water makes plants wilt
to lose or cause to lose courage, strength, etc
(tr) to cook (a leafy vegetable) very briefly until it begins to collapse
noun
the act of wilting or state of becoming wilted
any of various plant diseases characterized by permanent wilting, usually caused by fungal parasites attacking the roots
Word Origin for wilt
C17: perhaps variant of wilk to wither, from Middle Dutch welken
British Dictionary definitions for wilt (2 of 2)
wilt2
/ (wɪlt) /
verb
archaic, or dialect (used with the pronoun thou or its relative equivalent) a singular form of the present tense (indicative mood) of will 1
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