wild: Meaning and Definition of

wild

Pronunciation: (wīld), [key]
— adj., adv., n. -er, -est,
—adj.
  1. living in a state of nature; not tamed or domesticated: a wild animal; wild geese.
  2. growing or produced without cultivation or the care of humans, as plants, flowers, fruit, or honey: wild cherries.
  3. uncultivated, uninhabited, or waste: wild country.
  4. uncivilized or barbarous: wild tribes.
  5. of unrestrained violence, fury, intensity, etc.; violent; furious: wild strife; wild storms.
  6. characterized by or indicating violent feelings or excitement, as actions or a person's appearance: wild cries; a wild look.
  7. frantic or distracted; crazy: to drive someone wild.
  8. violently or uncontrollably affected: wild with rage; wild with pain.
  9. undisciplined, unruly, or lawless: a gang of wild boys.
  10. unrestrained, untrammeled, or unbridled: wild enthusiasm.
  11. disregardful of moral restraints as to pleasurable indulgence: He repented his wild youth.
  12. unrestrained by reason or prudence: wild schemes.
  13. amazing or incredible: Isn't that wild about Bill getting booted out of the club?
  14. disorderly or disheveled: wild hair.
  15. wide of the mark: He scored on a wild throw.
  16. intensely eager or enthusiastic: wild to get started; wild about the new styles.
  17. (of a card) having its value decided by the wishes of the players.
  18. (of molten metal) generating large amounts of gas during cooling, so as to cause violent bubbling.
—adv.
  1. in a wild manner; wildly.
  2. (of an oil or gas well) to spout in an uncontrolled way, as in a blowout. Cf.(def. 4).
  3. The rambler roses are running wild.
    1. to grow unchecked:The rambler roses are running wild.
    2. to show lack of restraint or control:Those children are allowed to run wild.
—n.
  1. Often,an uncultivated, uninhabited, or desolate region or tract; waste; wilderness; desert: a cabin in the wild; a safari to the wilds of Africa.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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