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 ¹.

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.
   used with the pronounthou or its relative equivalent 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

It was his 78th career triple-double, moving him into a tie with Hall of Fame legend and one-time Laker Wilt Chamberlain for seventh-most in NBA history.

From Los Angeles Times

Initially it looked like it was the hosts who would wilt with the Chiefs making a flying start, Feyi-Waboso finishing off a sweeping left to right move in the corner after just four minutes.

From BBC

It was beginning to wilt, and the water around it was getting hot.

From Los Angeles Times

Continuing to wilt in temperatures of over 30C, Draper lost range with his groundstrokes and power in his serves as Fritz won 10 of the next 13 games to reach the last 16.

From BBC

Dr. Robert C. Venette, a research biologist and director of the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center, is paying close attention to multiple invasive species, including "several bark beetles, emerald ash borer, spotted lanternfly, hemlock wooly adelgid, oak wilt, Palmer amaranth and Japanese knotweed, among others."

From Salon

Related Words

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