wilt

²wilt

verb \ˈwilt\

Definition of WILT

intransitive verb

1

a : to lose turgor from lack of water <the plants wilted in the heat> b : to become limp

2

: to grow weak or faint : languish

transitive verb

: to cause to wilt

Examples of WILT

1. The hot weather wilted the plants.
2. The crowd wilted in the heat.
3. He wilted under the pressure.

Origin of WILT

alteration of earlier welk, from Middle English welken, probably from Middle Dutch; akin to Old High German erwelkēn to wilt

First Known Use: circa 1691

Related to WILT

Synonyms: flag, hang, loll, sag, swag, droop

Related Words: slouch, slump; cave (in), collapse, crumple, drop, fall, sink, subside, yield

Near Antonyms: distend, stiffen; rise, straighten, unbend, uncurl

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with WILT

built, gilt, guilt, hilt, jilt, kilt, lilt, milt, quilt, silt, stilt, tilt