Difference between revisions of "Definition: Wolf" - New World Encyclopedia
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==Noun== | ==Noun== | ||
'''wolf''' (plural '''wolves''') | '''wolf''' (plural '''wolves''') | ||
| − | # Canis lupus; the largest wild member of the canine subfamily, once found throughout forested areas of northern Europe, Asia and America; it shares a common ancestry with the domestic dog. | + | # ''Canis lupus''; the largest wild member of the [[canine]] subfamily, once found throughout forested areas of northern Europe, Asia, and America; it shares a common ancestry with the domestic [[dog]]. |
| − | ## Any of several related canines that resemble Canis lupus in appearance, especially those of the genus Canis. | + | ## Any of several related canines that resemble ''Canis lupus'' in appearance, especially those of the genus ''Canis''. |
| − | # (music) A [[wolf tone]] or wolf note. | + | # ([[music]]) A [[wolf tone]] or wolf note. |
#:''The soft violin solo was marred by persistent '''wolves'''.'' | #:''The soft violin solo was marred by persistent '''wolves'''.'' | ||
# (figurative) Any very ravenous, rapacious, or destructive person or thing; especially, [[want]]; [[starvation]]. | # (figurative) Any very ravenous, rapacious, or destructive person or thing; especially, [[want]]; [[starvation]]. | ||
#:''They toiled hard to keep the '''wolf''' from the door.'' | #:''They toiled hard to keep the '''wolf''' from the door.'' | ||
# One of the destructive, and usually hairy, larvae of several species of [[beetle]]s and [[grain moth]]s. | # One of the destructive, and usually hairy, larvae of several species of [[beetle]]s and [[grain moth]]s. | ||
| − | # A white worm which infests [[granary|granaries]], the larva of [[Nemapogon granella]], a [[tineid moth]]. | + | # A white worm which infests [[granary|granaries]], the larva of ''[[Nemapogon granella]]'', a [[tineid moth]]. |
# A [[wolf spider]]. | # A [[wolf spider]]. | ||
# A [[willying machine]], to cleanse wool or willow. | # A [[willying machine]], to cleanse wool or willow. | ||
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* [[wolf tone]] | * [[wolf tone]] | ||
* [[wolf worm]] | * [[wolf worm]] | ||
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==Verb== | ==Verb== | ||
'''wolf''' (third-person singular simple present '''wolfs''', present participle '''wolfing''', simple past and past participle '''wolfed''') | '''wolf''' (third-person singular simple present '''wolfs''', present participle '''wolfing''', simple past and past participle '''wolfed''') | ||
Latest revision as of 19:25, 31 October 2023
Etymology
From Middle English wolf, from Old English wulf, ƿulf, from Proto-West Germanic *wulf, from Proto-Germanic *wulfaz, from Proto-Indo-European *wĺ̥kʷos. See also Saterland Frisian Wulf, West Frisian and Dutch wolf, German Wolf, Norwegian and Danish ulv; also Sanskrit वृक or vṛ́ka, Persian گرگ or gorg, Lithuanian vilkas, Russian волк or volk, Albanian ujk, Latin lupus, Greek λύκος or lýkos, Tocharian B walkwe. Doublet of lobo and lupus.
Noun
wolf (plural wolves)
- Canis lupus; the largest wild member of the canine subfamily, once found throughout forested areas of northern Europe, Asia, and America; it shares a common ancestry with the domestic dog.
- Any of several related canines that resemble Canis lupus in appearance, especially those of the genus Canis.
- (music) A wolf tone or wolf note.
- The soft violin solo was marred by persistent wolves.
- (figurative) Any very ravenous, rapacious, or destructive person or thing; especially, want; starvation.
- They toiled hard to keep the wolf from the door.
- One of the destructive, and usually hairy, larvae of several species of beetles and grain moths.
- A white worm which infests granaries, the larva of Nemapogon granella, a tineid moth.
- A wolf spider.
- A willying machine, to cleanse wool or willow.
Derived terms
- cry wolf
- grey wolf
- Mexican wolf
- red wolf
- seawolf
- Tasmanian wolf
- werewolf
- white wolf
- wolf cub
- wolf in sheep's clothing
- wolf interval
- wolfish
- wolflike
- wolf tone
- wolf worm
Verb
wolf (third-person singular simple present wolfs, present participle wolfing, simple past and past participle wolfed)
- To devour; to gobble; to eat (something) voraciously.
- She wolfed down the entire bowl of spaghetti in just a few minutes.
- To hunt for wolves.
Credits
New World Encyclopedia writers and editors copied and adjusted this Wiktionary entry in accordance with NWE standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit for this article is due to both New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions at Wiktionary is accessible to researchers here:
