wild

[[t]wa͟ɪld[/t]]

♦♦

wilds, wilder, wildest

1) ADJ: usu ADJ n Wild animals or plants live or grow in natural surroundings and are not looked after by people.

We saw two more wild cats creeping towards us in the darkness...

The lane was lined with wild flowers.

2) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n Wild land is natural and is not used by people.

Elmley is one of the few wild areas remaining in the South East.

Derived words:

wildness N-UNCOUNT

...the wildness of the mountains and the soft hues of the fields.

3) N-PLURAL: the N The wilds of a place are the natural areas that are far away from towns.

They went canoeing in the wilds of Canada.

4) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n Wild is used to describe the weather or the sea when it is stormy.

The wild weather did not deter some people from taking an unseasonable dip in the sea.

Syn:

stormy

5) ADJ-GRADED: oft v-link ADJ with n Wild behaviour is uncontrolled, excited, or energetic.

The children are wild with joy...

As George himself came on stage they went wild...

They marched into town to the wild cheers of the inhabitants.

Derived words:

wildly ADV-GRADED ADV with v

As she finished each song, the crowd clapped wildly.

6) ADJ-GRADED If you describe someone or their behaviour as wild, you mean that they behave in a very uncontrolled way.

When angry or excited, however, he could be wild, profane, and terrifying...

She lived a wild and incredible life...

The house is in a mess after a wild party.

Derived words:

wildly ADV-GRADED ADV with v

Five people were injured as Reynolds slashed out wildly with a kitchen knife.

wildness N-UNCOUNT

He had come to love the danger and the wildness of his life.

7) ADJ-GRADED: usu v-link ADJ If someone is wild, they are very angry. [INFORMAL]

For a long time I daren't tell him I knew, and when I did he went wild.

Syn:

mad, crazy

8) ADJ-GRADED If you say that someone has wild eyes or a wild look, you mean that their eyes are wide open and staring because they are frightened, angry, or insane.

She could see his face now, his eyes wild and his skin glistening with perspiration...

I could not forget the wild look in his eyes.

Derived words:

wildness N-UNCOUNT

She stared at him with wildness in her eyes.

9) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n A wild idea is unusual or extreme. A wild guess is one that you make without much thought.

I was just a kid and full of all sorts of wild ideas...

Browning's prediction is no better than a wild guess.

Derived words:

wildly ADV-GRADED

`Thirteen?' he guessed wildly.

10) → See also , wild child

11) PHRASE: V inflects If you are wild about someone or something, you like them very much. [INFORMAL]

I'm just wild about Peter, and he's just wild about me...

Irene was wild about the play.

Syn:

be crazy about

12) PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR Animals that live in the wild live in a free and natural state and are not looked after by people.

Fewer than a thousand giant pandas still live in the wild.

Ant:

in captivity

13) PHRASE: V inflects If something or someone, especially a child, runs wild, they behave in a natural, free, or uncontrolled way.

Everything that could grow was running wild for lack of attention...

Molly has let that girl run wild.

14) beyond your wildest dreams → see dream

in your wildest dreams → see dream

to sow your wild oats → see oat