wilt
1to become limp and drooping, as a fading flower; wither.
to lose strength, vigor, assurance, etc.: to wilt after a day's hard work.
to cause to wilt.
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.
Origin of wilt
1Other words for wilt
Other definitions for wilt (2 of 2)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use wilt in a sentence
I freed my bouquet, now wilted, lashed my kayak to the float, and climbed up slippery pink granite to the trail.
He felt his body grow limp (like one of those high-speed films of a flower wilting).
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’ | Asawin Suebsaeng | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST"I do not know," she answered wearily, and her whole form wilting she looked away from him.
The Long Night | Stanley WeymanThe rising sun was a very cheerful sight, but as our road lay up a long ascent, we soon felt its wilting effects.
Summary Narrative of an Exploratory Expedition to the Sources of the Mississippi River, in 1820 | Henry Rowe SchoolcraftShe shrank from him, wilting with shame, her eyes frozen in her face; but he was inexorable.
Poppy | Cynthia Stockley
She felt as if the very roots of her spirit had been torn up and lay wilting and shrivelling in the cold light of her reason.
The Californians | Gertrude Franklin Horn AthertonThomas still maintained his control, although cold perspiration was wilting his highly polished collar.
Lightnin' | Frank Bacon
British Dictionary definitions for wilt (1 of 2)
/ (wɪlt) /
to become or cause to become limp, flaccid, or drooping: insufficient 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
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
Origin of wilt
1British Dictionary definitions for wilt (2 of 2)
/ (wɪlt) /
archaic, or dialect (used with the pronoun thou or its relative equivalent) a singular form of the present tense (indicative mood) of will 1
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
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