Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
wilding 1[wahyl-ding] SynonymsExamplesWord Origin noun
- a wild apple tree.
- its fruit.
- any plant that grows wild.
- a plant, originally cultivated, that now grows wild; an escape.
- a wild animal.
adjective
- not cultivated or domesticated; wild.
Origin of wilding 1First recorded in 1515–25; wild + -ing3 wilding 2 noun
- the practice by a group of youths of going on a random spree of violent criminal activity.
- an instance of this.
adjective
- of or relating to such criminal activity: wilding teens; a wilding attack.
Origin of wilding 2First recorded in 1985–90;wild + -ing1 wild [wahyld] adjective, wild·er, wild·est.
- living in a state of nature; not tamed or domesticated: a wild animal; wild geese.
- growing or produced without cultivation or the care of humans, as plants, flowers, fruit, or honey: wild cherries.
- uncultivated, uninhabited, or waste: wild country.
- uncivilized or barbarous: wild tribes.
- of unrestrained violence, fury, intensity, etc.; violent; furious: wild strife; wild storms.
- characterized by or indicating violent feelings or excitement, as actions or a person’s appearance: wild cries; a wild look.
- frantic or distracted; crazy: to drive someone wild.
- violently or uncontrollably affected: wild with rage; wild with pain.
- undisciplined, unruly, or lawless: a gang of wild boys.
- unrestrained, untrammeled, or unbridled: wild enthusiasm.
- disregardful of moral restraints as to pleasurable indulgence: He repented his wild youth.
- unrestrained by reason or prudence: wild schemes.
- amazing or incredible: Isn’t that wild about Bill getting booted out of the club?
- disorderly or disheveled: wild hair.
- wide of the mark: He scored on a wild throw.
- Informal. intensely eager or enthusiastic: wild to get started; wild about the new styles.
- Cards. (of a card) having its value decided by the wishes of the players.
- Metallurgy. (of molten metal) generating large amounts of gas during cooling, so as to cause violent bubbling.
adverb
- in a wild manner; wildly.
noun
- Often wilds. an uncultivated, uninhabited, or desolate region or tract; waste; wilderness; desert: a cabin in the wild; a safari to the wilds of Africa.
verb (used with object), wild·ed, wild·ing.
- to travel around as a group, attacking or assaulting (people) in a random and violent way: The man was wilded and left for dead.
Idioms
- blow wild, (of an oil or gas well) to spout in an uncontrolled way, as in a blowout.Compare blowout(def 4).
- in the wild,
- in a natural state or in the wilderness.
- in the real world; in real life:language learning in the classroom and in the wild.
- run wild,
- to grow unchecked: The rambler roses are running wild.
- to show lack of restraint or control: Those children are allowed to run wild.
Origin of wild before 900; Middle English, Old English wilde; cognate with Dutch, German wild, Old Norse villr, Swedish vild, Gothic wiltheis Related formswild·ly, adverbwild·ness, nounhalf-wild, adjectivehalf-wild·ly, adverbhalf-wild·ness, nouno·ver·wild, adjectiveo·ver·wild·ly, adverbo·ver·wild·ness, nounsem·i·wild, adjectivesem·i·wild·ly, adverbsem·i·wild·ness, nounun·wild, adjectiveun·wild·ly, adverbun·wild·ness, nounSynonyms for wild 1. undomesticated, untamed, unbroken; ferocious. 4. barbarian, savage. 5. tempestuous, stormy, frenzied, turbulent. 6. boisterous. 7. insane. 9. self-willed, riotous, unrestrained, wayward. 10. uncontrollable. 12. reckless, rash, extravagant, impracticable. 13. grotesque, bizarre, strange, fanciful. 14. unkempt.Antonyms for wild 1. tame. Examples from the Web for wilding Contemporary Examples of wilding
“The term ‘wilding’ came out of that,” says Zimmer, referring to the attack in Central Park.
Breaking: Trend Stories Are Bullsh*t
Bonnie Bertram
April 8, 2014
How do you approach turning your novel The Wilding into a screenplay?
Noah Charney
June 5, 2013
The most powerful of CEOs is all but sure to drop his eyes and visibly cringe upon suddenly encountering a wilding crew.
Chicago Gangs Go ‘Wilding’ Amid Rising Gun Violence in Obama’s Hometown
Michael Daly
August 31, 2012
“Wilding,” a uniformed officer posted in a radio car near the corner of North Michigan and Chicago avenues said this week.
Chicago Gangs Go ‘Wilding’ Amid Rising Gun Violence in Obama’s Hometown
Michael Daly
August 31, 2012
Historical Examples of wilding
“That sounds as though it might be the wise thing to do,” said Wilding.
William West Winter
Then, with Wilding eagerly leaning over his shoulder, he read it slowly.
William West Winter
Wilding took the faded, yellow handbill with its crude printing.
William West Winter
At any moment Mr. Wilding may go forth, and your chance is lost.
Rafael Sabatini
We inferred it from certain remarks that Mr. Wilding let fall in our presence.
Rafael Sabatini
British Dictionary definitions for wilding wilding noun
- an uncultivated plant, esp the crab apple, or a cultivated plant that has become wild
- a wild animal
Also: wildling Wilding noun
- (Frederick) Anthony . 1883–1915, New Zealand tennis player; Wimbledon singles champion (1910–1913) and doubles champion (1907–08, 1910, 1913)
Wild noun
- Jonathan. ?1682–1725, British criminal, who organized a network of thieves, highwaymen, etc, while also working as an informer: said to have sent over a hundred men to the gallows before being hanged himself
wild adjective
- (of animals) living independently of man; not domesticated or tame
- (of plants) growing in a natural state; not cultivated
- uninhabited or uncultivated; desolatea wild stretch of land
- living in a savage or uncivilized waywild tribes
- lacking restraintwild merriment
- of great violence or intensitya wild storm
- disorderly or chaoticwild thoughts; wild talk
- dishevelled; untidywild hair
- in a state of extreme emotional intensitywild with anger
- recklesswild speculations
- not calculated; randoma wild guess
- unconventional; fantastic; crazywild friends
- (postpositive foll by about) informal intensely enthusiastic or excited
- (of a card, such as a joker or deuce in some games) able to be given any value the holder pleasesjacks are wild
- wild and woolly
- rough; untamed; barbarous
- (of theories, plans, etc) not fully thought out
adverb
- in a wild manner
- run wild
- to grow without cultivation or care
- to behave without restraint
noun
- (often plural) a desolate, uncultivated, or uninhabited region
- the wild
- a free natural state of living
- the wilderness
Derived Formswildish, adjectivewildly, adverbwildness, nounWord Origin for wild Old English wilde; related to Old Saxon, Old High German wildi, Old Norse villr, Gothic wiltheis Word Origin and History for wilding wild v.
“to run wild,” Old English awildian (see wild (adj.)). Wilding in the teen gang sense first recorded 1989.
wild adj.
Old English wilde “in the natural state, uncultivated, undomesticated,” from Proto-Germanic *wilthijaz (cf. Old Saxon wildi, Old Norse villr, Old Frisian wilde, Dutch wild, Old High German wildi, German wild, Gothic wilþeis “wild,” German Wild (n.) “game”), probably from PIE *ghwelt- (cf. Welsh gwyllt “untamed”), related to the base of Latin ferus (see fierce).
Ursula … hath bin at all the Salsbury rasis, dancing like wild with Mr Clarks. [letter, 1674]
Meaning “sexually dissolute, loose” is attested from mid-13c. U.S. slang sense of “exciting, excellent” is recorded from 1955. The noun meaning “uncultivated or desolate region” is first attested 1590s in the wilds. Baseball wild pitch is recorded from 1867. Wildest dreams first attested 1961 (in Carson McCullers). Wild West first recorded 1849. Wild Turkey brand of whiskey (Austin Nichols Co.) in use from 1942.
Idioms and Phrases with wilding wild
In addition to the idioms beginning with wild
also see: