wilt
wilt Lexical Profile
wilt Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To become limp and droop through heat, loss of water, or disease (of a plant, leaf, or flower).
"Without regular watering during the heatwave, the garden hydrangeas began to wilt."
To lose energy, confidence, or vigor, especially under pressure or exhausting conditions.
"The visiting team started strong but began to wilt under the relentless pressure of the defending champions."
To cause leafy greens or vegetables to become limp and tender by applying gentle heat or dressing.
"Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in the skillet and wilt the spinach with a pinch of garlic."
To second-person singular present tense of 'will' (archaic, used with 'thou').
"Do what thou wilt, the ancient proverb counselled."
• noun
Any of various fungal or bacterial plant diseases characterized by the loss of rigidity and drooping of leaves and stems due to disrupted water transport.
"The tomato crop was severely damaged by a sudden outbreak of bacterial wilt."
The state of being limp, drooping, or exhausted.
"A quick misting of water helped the indoor ferns recover from their afternoon wilt."
• Rhymes for wilt
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the late 17th century as a dialectal variant of 'welk' (to wither or fade), which derives from Middle English 'welken' and is related to Middle Low German 'welken' (to dry up or fade).