Wiktionary

wild

See also: Wild

English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
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Pronunciation

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  • enPR: wīld, IPA(key): /waɪld/, [waɪ̯ɫd], [ˈwaɪ̯.ɫ̩d]
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪld

Etymology 1

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From Middle English wild, wilde, from Old English wilde, from Proto-West Germanic *wilþī, from Proto-Germanic *wilþijaz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- (“hair, wool, grass, ear (of corn), forest”).

Cognates
Cognate with West Frisian wyld, Dutch wild, German wild, Danish vild, Swedish vild, Norwegian vill, Icelandic villtur.

Adjective

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wild (comparative wilder, superlative wildest)

  1. Untamed; not domesticated; specifically, in an unbroken line of undomesticated animals (as opposed to feral, referring to undomesticated animals whose ancestors were domesticated).
    Antonym: tame
    • c. 1527–1542, Thomas Wyatt, “Who so list to hounte”, in Egerton MS 2711‎[1], page 7v:
      noli me tangere for Ceſars I ame
      and wylde for to hold though I ſeme tame
    • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:
      Winter's not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way.
    • 1637, John Milton, “Lycidas”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC, page 58:
      Thee Shepherd, thee the Woods, and deſert caves, / With wilde Thyme and the gadding Vine o'regrown,
    • 1950 July, “Traveller's Joy”, in Railway Magazine, page ii (advertisement):
      Their flowers range from the rather formal blossoming of outer London to the wilder flowering of the country, where willow-herb and broom, traveller's joy and campion, go rioting over the chalky banks of the Metropolitan Line.
    • 2013 May–June, David Van Tassel, Lee DeHaan, “Wild Plants to the Rescue”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:
      Plant breeding is always a numbers game. […] The wild species we use are rich in genetic variation, and individual plants are highly heterozygous and do not breed true. In addition, we are looking for rare alleles, so the more plants we try, the better.
    Przewalski's horses are the only remaining wild horses.
  2. From or relating to wild creatures.
    wild honey
  4. Unrestrained or uninhibited.
    I was filled with wild rage when I discovered the infidelity, and punched a hole in the wall.
  5. Raucous, unruly, or licentious.
    The fraternity was infamous for its wild parties, which frequently resulted in police involvement.
    • 2022 August 10, Philip Haigh, “Scotland switched on to electrification”, in RAIL, number 963, page 35:
      Those most rural routes will not get overhead wires. As Reeve told the seminar: "Even in my wildest dreams, I can't see a business case for electrifying the Far North Line."
  6. (electrical engineering) Of unregulated and varying frequency.
    The aircraft's navigational equipment should not be powered from the wild AC bus except in an emergency, as its computers can be damaged by variations in electrical frequency.
  7. Visibly and overtly anxious; frantic.
    • 2011 August 7, Chris Bevan, “Man City 2-3 Man Utd”, in BBC Sport:
      City, in contrast, were lethargic in every area of the pitch and their main contribution in the first half-hour was to keep referee Phil Dowd busy, with Micah Richards among four of their players booked early on, in his case for a wild lunge on Young.
    Her mother was wild with fear when she didn't return home after the party.
  8. Furious; very angry.
  9. Disheveled, tangled, or untidy.
    After a week on the trail without a mirror, my hair was wild and dirty.
  10. Enthusiastic.
    I'm not wild about the idea of a two day car trip with my nephews, but it's my only option.
  11. Very inaccurate; far off the mark.
    The novice archer fired a wild shot and hit her opponent's _target.
  12. Exposed to the wind and sea; unsheltered.
    a wild roadstead
  13. (nautical, of a vessel) Hard to steer.
  14. (mathematics, of a knot) Not capable of being represented as a finite closed polygonal chain.
    Antonym: tame
  15. (slang) Amazing, awesome, unbelievable.
    Did you hear? Pat won the lottery! — Wow, that's wild!
  16. Able to stand in for others, e.g. a card in games, or a text character in computer pattern matching.
    In this card game, aces are wild: they can take the place of any other card.
    • 2009, Leonardo Vanneschi, Steven Gustafson, Alberto Moraglio, Genetic Programming: 12th European Conference:
      We define a pattern as a valid GP subtree that might contain wild characters [i.e. wildcards] in any of its nodes.
  17. Of an audio recording: intended to be synchronized with film or video but recorded separately.
    a wild track; wild sound
Synonyms
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Derived terms
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Translations
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Adverb

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wild (not comparable)

  1. Inaccurately; not on _target.
    The javelin flew wild and struck a spectator, to the horror of all observing.
  2. (of an audio recording) Intended to be synchronized with film or video but recorded separately.
    Let's record it wild.

Noun

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wild (plural wilds)

  1. (singular, with "the") The undomesticated state of a wild animal.
    After mending the lion's leg, we returned him to the wild.
  2. (chiefly in the plural) A wilderness.
    • 1730–1774, Oliver Goldsmith, Introductory to Switzerland
      Thus every good his native wilds impart
      Imprints the patriot passion on his heart;
      And e’en those ills that round his mansion rise
      Enhance the bliss his scanty funds supplies.
Derived terms
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Verb

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wild (third-person singular simple present wilds, present participle wilding, simple past and past participle wilded)

  1. (intransitive, slang) To commit random acts of assault, robbery, and rape in an urban setting, especially as a gang.
    • 1989 April 22, David E. Pitt, “Jogger's Attackers Terrorized at Least 9 in 2 Hours”, in New York Times, page 1:
      ...Chief of Detectives Robert Colangelo, who said the attacks appeared unrelated to money, race, drugs, or alcohol, said that some of the 20 youths brought in for questioning has told investigators that the crime spree was the product of a pastime called "wilding".
      "It's not a term that we in the police had heard before," the chief said, noting that the police were unaware of any similar incident in the park recently. "They just said, 'We were going wilding.' In my mind at this point, it implies that they were going to raise hell."...
    • 1999, Busta Rhymes (Trevor Taheim Smith, Jr.), Iz They Wildin Wit Us? (song)
      Now is they wildin with us / And getting rowdy with us.
  2. (intransitive, slang) (In the form wilding or wildin') To act in a strange or unexpected way.
    • 2021 April 6, Shirley Ju, “The New Voice of Brooklyn is Here To 'Drench 'Em'”, in Flaunt Magazine‎[2], archived from the original on 7 September 2022:
      They had a big influence on me. They had a big influence on Brooklyn period. I like the nonsense. [laughs] They were wildin'. Everyone in Brooklyn was liking that shit. They're wildin'. Their story in the stu, it gets deep.
    • 2021 October 14, Jack Beresford, “Hospital Security Guard 'Heartbroken' After Being Fired Over Viral Video Confrontation”, in Newsweek‎[3]:
      Kinsey posted a clip of the incident alongside a caption that reads: "Damn the ER in Tulsa be wildin'."
    • 2022 April 20, A. Sherrod Blakely, “The Neverending Disappointment of Kyrie Irving”, in Bleacher Report‎[4]:
      The Ringer's Culture/NBA writer Wosney Lambre said it best: "I think it's a bad look for the players to be wilding on the fans like this. Fair or not, the players are held to a higher standard of decorum than the loser fans. It is what it is."

Etymology 2

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Noun

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wild (plural wilds)

  1. Alternative form of weald

Afrikaans

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Etymology

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From Dutch wild, from Middle Dutch wilt, from Old Dutch *wildi, from Proto-Germanic *wilþijaz.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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wild (attributive wilde, comparative wilder, superlative wildste)

  1. wild

Dutch

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Etymology

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From Middle Dutch wilt, from Old Dutch wildi, from Proto-West Germanic *wilþī, from Proto-Germanic *wilþijaz.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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wild (comparative wilder, superlative wildst)

  1. wild

Declension

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Declension of wild
uninflected wild
inflected wilde
comparative wilder
positive comparative superlative
predicative/adverbial wild wilder het wildst
het wildste
indefinite m./f. sing. wilde wildere wildste
n. sing. wild wilder wildste
plural wilde wildere wildste
definite wilde wildere wildste
partitive wilds wilders —

Derived terms

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Descendants

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  • Afrikaans: wild
  • Berbice Creole Dutch: weldri
  • Jersey Dutch: wäld
  • Negerhollands: wild, weeld, welt, willit, wil

Noun

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wild n (uncountable)

  1. game (food; animals hunted for meat)
  2. wildlife
  3. wilderness

Derived terms

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Descendants

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Anagrams

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German

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Etymology

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Inherited from Middle High German wilde, from Old High German wildi, from Proto-West Germanic *wilþī, from Proto-Germanic *wilþijaz.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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wild (strong nominative masculine singular wilder, comparative wilder, superlative am wildesten)

  1. wild (of animals, etc.)
  2. (informal) wild, unrestrained, raucous (of behavior, parties, etc.)
  3. (informal) crazy, hard to believe (of stories, situations, etc.)
  4. (obsolete) strange
    Synonym: fremd

Declension

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Positive forms of wild
number & gender singular plural
masculine feminine neuter
predicative er ist wild sie ist wild es ist wild sie sind wild
strong declension
(without article) 		nominative wilder wilde wildes wilde
genitive wilden wilder wilden wilder
dative wildem wilder wildem wilden
accusative wilden wilde wildes wilde
weak declension
(with definite article) 		nominative der wilde die wilde das wilde die wilden
genitive des wilden der wilden des wilden der wilden
dative dem wilden der wilden dem wilden den wilden
accusative den wilden die wilde das wilde die wilden
mixed declension
(with indefinite article) 		nominative ein wilder eine wilde ein wildes (keine) wilden
genitive eines wilden einer wilden eines wilden (keiner) wilden
dative einem wilden einer wilden einem wilden (keinen) wilden
accusative einen wilden eine wilde ein wildes (keine) wilden
Comparative forms of wild
number & gender singular plural
masculine feminine neuter
predicative er ist wilder sie ist wilder es ist wilder sie sind wilder
strong declension
(without article) 		nominative wilderer wildere wilderes wildere
genitive wilderen wilderer wilderen wilderer
dative wilderem wilderer wilderem wilderen
accusative wilderen wildere wilderes wildere
weak declension
(with definite article) 		nominative der wildere die wildere das wildere die wilderen
genitive des wilderen der wilderen des wilderen der wilderen
dative dem wilderen der wilderen dem wilderen den wilderen
accusative den wilderen die wildere das wildere die wilderen
mixed declension
(with indefinite article) 		nominative ein wilderer eine wildere ein wilderes (keine) wilderen
genitive eines wilderen einer wilderen eines wilderen (keiner) wilderen
dative einem wilderen einer wilderen einem wilderen (keinen) wilderen
accusative einen wilderen eine wildere ein wilderes (keine) wilderen
Superlative forms of wild
number & gender singular plural
masculine feminine neuter
predicative er ist am wildesten sie ist am wildesten es ist am wildesten sie sind am wildesten
strong declension
(without article) 		nominative wildester wildeste wildestes wildeste
genitive wildesten wildester wildesten wildester
dative wildestem wildester wildestem wildesten
accusative wildesten wildeste wildestes wildeste
weak declension
(with definite article) 		nominative der wildeste die wildeste das wildeste die wildesten
genitive des wildesten der wildesten des wildesten der wildesten
dative dem wildesten der wildesten dem wildesten den wildesten
accusative den wildesten die wildeste das wildeste die wildesten
mixed declension
(with indefinite article) 		nominative ein wildester eine wildeste ein wildestes (keine) wildesten
genitive eines wildesten einer wildesten eines wildesten (keiner) wildesten
dative einem wildesten einer wildesten einem wildesten (keinen) wildesten
accusative einen wildesten eine wildeste ein wildestes (keine) wildesten

Derived terms

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Further reading

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Hunsrik

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Etymology

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Inherited from Old High German wildi.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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wild (comparative wilder, superlative wildest)

  1. wild

Declension

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Declension of wild (see also Appendix:Hunsrik adjectives)
masculine feminine neuter plural
Weak inflection nominative wild wild wild wilde
accusative wilde wild wild wilde
dative wilde wilde wilde wilde
Strong inflection nominative wilder wilde wildes wilde
accusative wilde wilde wildes wilde
dative wildem wilder wildem wilde

Further reading

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Low German

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Etymology

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From Middle Low German wilde, from Old Saxon wildi, from Proto-West Germanic *wilþī, from Proto-Germanic *wilþijaz.

Compare English, Dutch and German wild, West Frisian wyld, Danish vild.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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wild (comparative willer, superlative willst)

  1. wild

Declension

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Positive forms of wild
gender singular plural
masculine feminine neuter all genders
predicative he is wild se is wild dat is wild se sünd wild
partitive een Wills een Wills wat Wills allens Will
strong declension
(without article) 		nominative wille wille wild wille
oblique willen wille wild wille
weak declension
(with definite article) 		nominative de wille de wille dat wille de willen
oblique den willen de wille dat wille de willen
mixed declension
(with indefinite article) 		nominative en wille/willen en wille en wild/willet (keen) willen
oblique en willen en wille en wild/willet (keen) willen
Comparative forms of wild
gender singular plural
masculine feminine neuter all genders
predicative he is willer se is willer dat is willer se sünd willer
partitive een willers een willers wat willers allens willer
strong declension
(without article) 		nominative willere willere willer willere
oblique willern willere willer willere
weak declension
(with definite article) 		nominative de willere de willere dat willere de willern
oblique den willern de willere dat willere de willern
mixed declension
(with indefinite article) 		nominative en willere/willeren en willere en willer (keen) willern
oblique en willern en willere en willer (keen) willern
Superlative forms of wild
gender singular plural
masculine feminine neuter all genders
predicative he is de Willste se is de Willste dat is dat Willste se sünd de Willsten
strong declension
(without article) 		nominative willste willste willst willste
oblique willsten willste willst willste
weak declension
(with definite article) 		nominative de willste de willste dat willste de willsten
oblique den willsten de willste dat willste de willsten
mixed declension
(with indefinite article) 		nominative en willste/willsten en willste en willst (keen) willsten
oblique en willsten en willste en willst (keen) willsten
Note: This declension is one of many; neither its grammar nor spelling apply to all dialects.

Maltese

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Root
w-l-d
11 terms

Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Arabic وَلَد (walad).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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wild m (plural ulied)

  1. offspring
    • 1949, Anton Buttigieg, “Ir-Riħ u l-Bnazzi”, in Mill-Gallerija ta’ Żgħożiti:
      Ħarbat, mewwet dawk id-dwieli,
      wild il-għaraq tal-ħaddiem,
      żomm il-fqir ġol-gorboġ waħdu,
      u bla ħobż, bla dawl, bla sliem!
      Destroy, kill those vines,
      the offspring of the worker’s sweat,
      keep the poor man in the hovel alone,
      without bread, without light, without peace!
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