wilt
1 Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
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the act of wilting, or the state of being wilted.
a sudden wilt of interest in the discussion.
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Plant Pathology.
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the drying out, drooping, and withering of the leaves of a plant due to inadequate water supply, excessive transpiration, or vascular disease.
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a disease so characterized, as fusarium wilt.
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a virus disease of various caterpillars, characterized by the liquefaction of body tissues.
verb
verb
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to become or cause to become limp, flaccid, or drooping
insufficient water makes plants wilt
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to lose or cause to lose courage, strength, etc
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(tr) to cook (a leafy vegetable) very briefly until it begins to collapse
noun
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the act of wilting or state of becoming wilted
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any of various plant diseases characterized by permanent wilting, usually caused by fungal parasites attacking the roots
verb
Etymology
Origin of wilt
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”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That day, England wilted in the Mumbai heat and temperatures are forecast to hit 39 degrees during the daylight hours on Thursday.
From BBC
Fold in winter greens — kale, escarole, spinach — and let them wilt just until tender but still verdant.
From Salon
"Fusarium wilt -- also known as Panama disease -- is a destructive soil-borne disease which impacts farmed Cavendish bananas worldwide through its virulent Race 4 strains," Dr. Chen said.
From Science Daily
You’re not buying four different vegetables and watching half of them wilt.
From Salon
She wilted under the pressure during her individual event and left the ice in tears.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
