whale¹ (hweil, weil) pl. whales or whale •n. 1 any member of either of two orders (Mysticeta and Odontoceta) of aquatic mammals that breathe air, bear live young, and have front limbs that have been modified into flippers, and a flat, horizontal tail: see WHALEBONE WHALE, TOOTHED WHALE 2 any of the larger members of these two groups, excluding the porpoises and dolphins (except for the killer whale) •vi. whaled, whal´ing to engage in the work of hunting whales Æ a whale of a [Colloq.] an exceptionally large, fine, etc. example of a (class of persons or things) [ME whal < OE hwæl, akin to OHG hwal, ON hvalr, MDu wal < IE base *(s)kwalos, a large fish > L squalus, big sea fish]
whale² (hweil, weil) whaled, whal´ing •vt. [Colloq.] to beat; whip; thrash [prob. var. of WALE¹]
whaleback (hweil´bæk', weil´-) •n. 1 something rounded on top like the back of a whale Æ 2 a freight steamer with the bow and upper deck rounded so that heavy seas will wash right over: formerly used on the Great Lakes
whaleboat (-bout') •n. 1 a large, long rowboat, pointed at both ends to increase maneuverability: used formerly by whalers 2 a similar boat, now often one with a motor (motor whaleboat), used as a ship's lifeboat and utility boat
whalebone (-boun') •n. 1 the horny, elastic material that hangs in fringed, parallel, platelike sheets from the upper jaw or palate of whalebone whales and serves to strain the plankton on which they feed; baleen 2 something made of whalebone: formerly much used for corset stays and whips
whalebone whale any of an order (Mysticeta) of whales with toothless jaws, whalebone in the mouth, and a symmetrical skull, consisting of the gray whale, the right whales, and rorquals
whaler (hweil´эr, weil´-) •n. 1 a ship used in whaling 2 a person whose work is whaling: also Æ whale´man pl. -men •n.
Whales (hweilz, weilz), Bay of inlet of the Ross Sea, near Little America
whaling¹ (hweil´iŋ, weil´-) •n. the work or trade of hunting and killing whales for their blubber, whalebone, etc.
whaling² (hweil´iŋ, weil´-) •n. [Colloq.] a sound thrashing; whipping [< WHALE² + -ING]
wham (hwæm, wæm) •interj. a sound in imitation of a heavy blow, explosion, etc. •n. a heavy blow, impact, etc. •vt., vi. whammed, wham´ming to strike, explode, etc. loudly
whammo (-ou) •interj. 1 WHAM 2 an exclamation used to express sudden, startling action, change, awareness, etc. Also sp. wham´o
whammy (-i:) pl. -mies [Slang] a jinx or the evil eye: usually in put a (or the) whammy on •n.
whang¹ (hwæŋ, wæŋ) •vt. 1 to strike with a resounding blow 2 [Dial.] to beat or thrash •vi. to make a whanging noise •n. 1 a whanging noise 2 a whack or blow [echoic]
whang² (hwæŋ, wæŋ) •n. [Dial.] 1 a thong of leather 2 leather for thongs, etc. [altered < ME thwang, THONG]
whangee (hwæŋ´i:, wæŋ´-) •n. 1 any of various related Chinese and Japanese bamboos (genus Phyllostachys) 2 a walking stick of whangee [Chin huang-i < huang, a hard kind of bamboo + i, to lean on]
whap (hwäp, wäp) whapped, whap´ping •vt., vi., n. var. of WHOP
wharf (hwörf, wörf) pl. wharves or wharfs •n. 1 a structure of wood or stone, sometimes roofed over, built at the shore of a harbor, river, etc. for ships to lie alongside, as during loading or unloading; pier; dock 2 [Obs.] a bank at the water's edge; shore •vt. 1 to bring to a wharf; moor at a wharf 2 to unload or store on a wharf 3 to furnish with a wharf or wharves [ME < OE hwerf, a dam or bank to keep out water, lit., a turning < base of hweorfan, to turn < IE base *kwerp-, to turn > Gr karpos, wrist]
wharf rat 1 any of various rats found around wharves 2 a vagrant or petty criminal who haunts wharves
wharfage (hwör´fij, wör´-) •n. 1 the use of a wharf for mooring, loading, or unloading a ship, or for storing goods 2 a fee charged for this 3 wharves collectively
wharfinger (-in jэr) •n. a person who owns or manages a wharf [altered < earlier wharfager < prec.]
Wharton (hwört´ªn, wört´ªn), Edith (born Edith Newbold Jones) 1862-1937; U.S. novelist
wharve (hwörv, wörv) •n. 1 orig., a small flywheel on the spindle of a spinning wheel 2 a small drive pulley on a spindle of a modern spinning machine [ME wherve < OE hweorfa < base of hweorfan, to turn: see WHARF]
wharves (hwörvz, wörvz) •n. alt. pl. of WHARF
what (hwût, hwät, wût, wät; unstressed, hwэt, wэt) pron. 1 which thing, event, circumstance, etc.: used interrogatively in asking for the specification of an identity, quantity, quality, etc.; specif., a) in asking about the nature, class, name, purpose, etc. of a thing {what is that object? what is your address?} b) in asking for an explanation or repetition of something previously said {you told them what?} c) in asking for a quantity, sum, etc. {what will it cost?} d) in asking about the value, importance, or effect of something {what is home without a wife?}: What is often used elliptically with the sense of 1b, or, esp. as a Brit. colloquialism, to end a sentence with a general or rhetorical interrogative force {it's rather late, what?} 2 that which or those which [to know what one wants]: used to introduce a parenthetical element in a sentence [she has, what is rare, true tolerance] and also used as a compound relative pronoun with the specific senses of a) anything that {do what you will} b) the exact person or thing that {not what he was five years ago} c) that or who (now regarded as substandard [the man what gave it to me] except in but what, meaning but that or but who [there is no one but what would approve]) 3 used elliptically for what it is, what to do, etc. {I'll tell you what} 4 used with an intensive force in exclamations {what he said about her!} •n. the true or basic quality of something {to uncover the what and why of their relationship} •adj. 1 which or which kind of: used interrogatively or relatively in asking for or specifying the nature, identity, etc. of a person or thing {what man told you that? he knows what role she played} 2 as much, or as many, as {take what time (or men) you need} 3 how great, surprising, magnificent, disappointing, etc.: in exclamations {what a man! what nonsense!} •adv. 1 in what respect? to what degree? how? {what does it matter?} 2 in some manner or degree; in part; partly: usually followed by with {what with singing and joking, the time passed quickly} 3 how greatly, surprisingly, etc.: in exclamations {what tragic news!} 4 [Obs.] why? conj. 1 that: in but what, meaning but that {never doubt but what he loves you} 2 [Dial.] so far as; as much as {we warned them what we could} •interj. an exclamation of surprise, anger, confusion, etc. {what! no dinner?} and what not and other things of all sorts what about what do you think, know, feel, etc. concerning? what for 1 for what purpose? why? 2 [Slang] punishment; esp., a whipping {he gave his son what for!} what have you [Colloq.] anything else of a similar sort {selling games, toys, or what have you} what if 1 what would happen if 2 what difference would it make if Æ what it takes [Colloq.] whatever is necessary for success or popularity, as wealth, beauty, or intelligence what's what [Colloq.] the true state of affairs what the heck (or hell, devil, etc.) 1 an exclamatory remark of surprise 2 what: used emphatically what though what difference does it make that [ME hwat < OE hwæt, neut. of hwa, who < IE interrogative base *kwo-, *kwe- > WHERE, WHO, L qui, who, what, Lith kàs, what, who]
whatchamacallit (hwûch´э mэ köl'it, hwäch´-, wûch´-, wäch´-) •n. [Colloq.] THINGAMAJIG
whatever (hwût ev´эr, wût-) pron. what: an emphatic variant; specif., a) which thing, event, circumstance, etc. (used as an interrogative expressing perplexity or wonder) {whatever can she mean by that?} b) anything that {tell her whatever you like} c) no matter what {whatever you may think, he's innocent} •adj. 1 of no matter what type, degree, quality, etc. {to make whatever repairs are needed} 2 being who it may be {whatever man told you that, it is not true} 3 of any kind: used following the word that it modifies {I have no plans whatever} Also [Old Poet.] what·e'er´ (-er´) (or) whatever [Colloq.] anything else of the sort {use a pencil, pen, (or) whatever}
whatnot (hwût´nät', wût´-) •n. 1 a nondescript or indescribable thing or, sometimes, person 2 a set of open shelves, as for bric-a-brac
what's (hwûts) 1 what is 2 what has 3 [Colloq.] what does {what's he want?}
whatsoever (hwût'sou ev´эr, wût'-) pron., adj. whatever: an emphatic form Also [Old Poet.] what'so·e'er´ (-er´)
whaup (hwäp, hwöp) •n. [Chiefly Scot.] CURLEW [prob. < or akin to OE whilpe, curlew, akin to hwelp: see WHELP]
wheal¹ (hwi:l, wi:l) •n. 1 [Obs.] a pustule; pimple 2 a small, itching elevation of the skin, as from the bite of an insect [ME whele, akin to OE hwelian, to suppurate]
wheal² (hwi:l, wi:l) •n. a raised stripe or ridge on the skin, as from a lash of a whip [altered (based on prec.) < WEAL¹]
wheat (hwi:t, wi:t) •n. 1 any of several cereal grasses (genus Triticum) having dense, erect spikes containing grains which thresh free of the chaff; esp., bread wheat (T. aestivum), a cultigen with large, nutritious grains 2 the grain of any of these grasses; esp., bread wheat, used in making flour, cereals, pastries, cakes, etc., and durum, used in making macaroni, noodles, etc.: next to rice, the most widely used grain [ME whete < OE hwæte, akin to Ger weizen < IE base *kweid-, to gleam, bright, WHITE: from the white seed]
wheat cake a pancake made with wheat flour
wheat germ the highly nutritious embryo of the wheat kernel, milled out as an oily flake and used to enrich breads, cereals, etc. or as a topping, cereal, etc.
wheat rust a disease of wheat, caused by various rust fungi; esp., any of numerous stem rusts caused by a fungus (Puccinia graminis) harbored by certain barberries
wheatear (-ir') •n. any of a genus (Oenanthe) of small, long-legged, migrating thrushes native to the Old World, esp. a species (O. oenanthe) now in North America [earlier white ears < WHITE + eeres, ers, var. of ARSE: in reference to its white rump]
wheaten (hwi:t´ªn, wi:t´-) •adj. 1 made of wheat or wheat flour 2 of the pale-yellow color of wheat
wheaten terrier any of a breed of medium-sized terrier with a soft, wavy coat, wheaten in color, and a docked tail In full soft-coated wheaten terrier
Wheatley (hwi:t´li:, wi:t´-), Phillis c. 1753-84; Am. poet, born in Africa & brought to America as a slave
Wheaton (hwi:t´ªn, wi:t´-) city in NE Ill., near Chicago: pop. 51,000 [after W. L. Wheaton, early settler]
Wheatstone bridge (hwi:t´stoun', wi:t´-; chiefly Brit, -stэn) 1 a divided bridge circuit (see BRIDGE¹, n. 11) used for the measurement of electrical resistance 2 a device containing such a circuit [after Sir Charles Wheatstone (1802-75), Eng physicist]
wheatworm (hwi:t´wørm', wi:t´-) •n. a small nematode worm (Anguina tritici) that feeds on wheat, oats, etc.
whee (hwi:, wi:) •interj. an exclamation expressing joy, excitement, exultation, etc.
wheedle (hwi:d´ªl, wi:d´-) -dled, -dling •vt., vi. 1 to influence or persuade (a person) by flattery, soothing words, coaxing, etc. 2 to get (something) by coaxing or flattery SYN. COAX whee´dler •n. whee´dling·ly •adv. [17th-c. cant < ? Ger wedeln, to wag the tail, fan, hence to flatter < wedel, a fan, tail]
wheel (hwi:l, wi:l) •n. 1 a solid or partly solid disk, or a circular frame connected by spokes to a central hub, capable of turning on a central axis and used as to move vehicles or transmit power in machinery 2 anything like a wheel in shape, movement, action, etc., as a firework that revolves in a circular orbit while burning 3 a device or apparatus of which the principal element is a wheel or wheels; specif., a) in the Middle Ages, an instrument of torture consisting of a circular frame on which the victim's limbs were painfully stretched b) a wheel with projecting handles for controlling the rudder of a ship c) short for PADDLE WHEEL, POTTER'S WHEEL, SPINNING WHEEL, STEERING WHEEL, etc. d) any of various rotating disks used for gambling {a roulette wheel} Æ e) [Colloq.] a bicycle Æ f) [pl.] [Slang] an automobile 4 [usually pl.] the moving, propelling, or controlling forces or agencies {the wheels of progress} 5 a turning about; circular, rotating, or revolving movement; specif., a turning movement as of troops or ships in line, with one end of the line as the pivot; also, any pivoting movement like this, as of dancers Æ 6 [Slang] an important, influential, or authoritative person: also big wheel 7 [Archaic] the refrain of a song •vt. 1 a) to move or roll on wheels {to wheel a baby buggy} b) to transport in a wheeled vehicle 2 to cause to turn, revolve, or rotate 3 to perform in a circular movement 4 to furnish with a wheel or wheels •vi. 1 to turn on or as on an axis; pivot, rotate, revolve, etc. 2 to reverse one's course of action, movement, opinion, attitude, etc.: often with about 3 to turn in a swooping, circular motion: said of birds 4 to move or roll along on or as on wheels at (or behind) the wheel 1 steering a ship, motor vehicle, etc. 2 in charge; directing activities spin one's wheels to keep on working in a fruitless way Æ wheel and deal [Slang] to behave in an aggressive, flamboyant way, as in arranging business or political deals wheel of fortune 1 the wheel which the goddess of fortune was believed to rotate to bring about the alternations or reverses in human affairs 2 the changes or vicissitudes of life wheels within wheels a series of involved circumstances, motives, etc. reacting upon one another [ME whele < OE hweol, earlier hweogol < IE *kwekwlo-, wheel (> Gr kyklos, a circle) < base *kwel-, to turn, be around, dwell > Gr telos, turning point, end, polos, axis, L colere, to till, dwell, Ger hals, neck]
wheel and axle a larger wheel or pulley fixed to a shaft, a smaller wheel or pulley, or a drum, to increase mechanical advantage or speed: the wheels are often grooved and operated like pulleys
wheel animalcule ROTIFER
wheel bug a large North American assassin bug (Arilus cristatus) distinguished by a high, saw-toothed crest on the prothorax: it sucks the blood of other insects
wheel cover a fancy cover for the wheels of motor vehicles: larger than a hubcap
wheel horse 1 the horse, or one of the horses, harnessed nearest the front wheels of a vehicle Æ 2 a person who works especially hard and steadily in any enterprise
wheel lock 1 an early type of gunlock in which a rough wheel is spun on a piece of pyrite or flint to throw sparks into the pan and set off the charge 2 a gun with such a lock
wheelbarrow (-bær'ou, -ber'ou) •n. a shallow, open box for moving small loads, having a single wheel in front forming a tripod with two legs in back, and two shafts with handles for raising the vehicle off its legs and pushing or pulling it •vt. to move or transport in a wheelbarrow [ME wilberwe: see WHEEL & BARROW¹]
wheelbase (-beis') •n. the length of a motor vehicle between the centers of the front and rear wheels
wheelchair (-cher') •n. Æ a mobile chair mounted on large wheels, for persons unable to walk
wheeled (hwi:ld, wi:ld) •adj. 1 having a wheel or wheels 2 having wheels of a specified number or kind: used in hyphenated compounds {four-wheeled}
wheeler (hwi:l´эr, wi:l´-) •n. 1 a person or thing that wheels 2 WHEEL HORSE (sense 1) 3 something having a specified kind or number of wheels: used in hyphenated compounds {side-wheeler, two-wheeler} Wheeler (hwi:l´эr, wi:l´-), John Archibald 1911- ; U.S. physicist
wheeler-dealer (hwi:l´эr di:l´эr, wi:l´-) •n. [Slang] a person who wheels and deals: see WHEEL AND DEAL (at WHEEL)
wheelhouse (hwi:l´haus', wi:l´-) •n. PILOTHOUSE
wheelie (-i:) •n. a stunt performed on a motorcycle or bicycle, in which the front wheel is raised so that the vehicle is balanced for a moment on its rear wheel
Wheeling (hwi:l´iŋ) city in N W.Va., on the Ohio River: pop. 35,000 [said to be < Delaware wí˙link, lit., at the place of the head (of a slain enemy exhibited there)]
wheelman (hwi:l´mэn, wi:l´-) pl. -men •n. 1 [Rare] a cyclist Æ 2 HELMSMAN: also wheels´man 3 [Slang] the driver of an automobile; esp., the driver of a getaway car
wheelwork (-wørk') •n. an arrangement of wheels or gears in a machine or mechanical contrivance
wheelwright (-rait') •n. a person who makes and repairs wheels and wheeled vehicles [see WHEEL & WRIGHT]
wheen (wi:n) •n. [Scot. or North Eng.] a few or, sometimes, a considerable number [ME qwheyn(e) < OE hwæne, instrumental case of hwōn, (a) few]
wheeze (hwi:z, wi:z) wheezed, wheez´ing •vi. 1 to breathe hard with a whistling, breathy sound, as in asthma 2 to make a sound like this {the old organ wheezed} •vt. to utter with a sound of wheezing •n. 1 an act or sound of wheezing 2 [Slang] an overworked or trite remark, joke, or gag wheez´er •n. wheez´ing·ly •adv. [ME whesen < ON hvæsa, to hiss < IE base *wes-, to wheeze, snort > L queri, to lament]
wheezy (hwi:´zi:, wi:´-) wheez´i·er, wheez´i·est •adj. wheezing or characterized by wheezing wheez´i·ly •adv.
whelk (hwelk, welk) •n. any of various families (esp. Buccinidae) of large marine snails which are often carnivorous and edible [ME welke < OE wioluc < IE base *wel-, to turn (with reference to the spiral shell) > WALK]
whelm (hwelm, welm) •vt. 1 to submerge, cover, or engulf 2 to overpower or crush; overwhelm [ME welmen, whelmen: ? merging of OE -hwelfan, to overwhelm, with helmian, to cover: see HELM¹]
whelp (hwelp, welp) •n. 1 a young dog; puppy 2 a young lion, tiger, leopard, bear, wolf, etc.; cub 3 a youth or child: a term showing contempt 4 any of the teeth on a sprocket wheel 5 Naut. any of the ribs or ridges along the barrel of a capstan or the drum of a windlass: usually used in pl. •vt., vi. to give birth to (young): said of some animals [ME < OE hwelp, akin to Ger welf, ON hvelpr, puppy, prob. < IE *kwel-, var. of base *kel-, to cry out, call > LOW², Welsh colwyn, puppy]
when (hwen, wen; unstressed, hwэn, wэn) •adv. 1 a) at what time? {when did they leave? he asked when he should go} b) on what occasion or under what circumstances? {when do you double the final consonant?} c) at what point? {when shall I stop pouring?} 2 at an earlier time and under different circumstances {I knew him when} Used interrogatively and in indirect questions conj. 1 a) at what time or point {they told us when to eat} b) at the time that {when we were at college} 2 at which {a time when people must speak out} 3 as soon as {the runners started when the gun went off} 4 at whatever time that {she smiles when you praise her} 5 although; whereas; while on the contrary {to complain when there's no reason to do so} 6 if; considering the fact that {how can he help when they won't let him?} pron. what or which time {until when will you remain? we came a week ago, since when we've had no rest} •n. the time or moment (of an event) {the when and where of his arrest} [ME whenne < OE hwænne, akin to Ger wann, when, wenn, if, akin to hwa, who: see WHAT]
whenas (hwen æz´, wen-) conj. [Archaic] 1 when 2 inasmuch as 3 whereas [prec. + AS¹]
whence (hwens, wens) •adv. 1 from what place; from where {whence do you come? I know whence he comes} 2 from what source or cause {whence does he get his strength?} conj. 1 to the place from which {return whence you came} 2 from which fact {there was no reply, whence he inferred that all had gone} pron. a place, cause, etc.: preceded by from: its use is still frowned on by some [ME whennes (< whenne, WHEN + adv. gen. -s), replacing OE hwanan]
whencesoever (hwens'sou ev´эr, wens'-) •adv., conj. from whatever place, source, or cause
whenever (hwen ev´эr, wen-) •adv. [Colloq.] when: an emphatic form expressing bewilderment, impatience, etc. {whenever will he learn?} conj. 1 at whatever time {leave whenever you're ready} 2 on whatever occasion {visit us whenever you can} Also [Old Poet.] when'e'er´ (-er´)
whensoever (hwen'sou ev´эr, wen'-) •adv., conj. whenever: an emphatic form Also [Old Poet.] when'so·e'er´ (-er´)
where (hwer, wer; unstressed, hwэr, wэr) •adv. 1 in or at what place? {where is the car?} 2 to or toward what place or point? {where did he go?} 3 in what situation or position {where will we be if we lose?} 4 in what respect? {where is she to blame?} 5 from what place or source? {where did you get your information?} conj. 1 in or at what place {he knows where they are} 2 in or at which place {we came home, where we had dinner} 3 in or at the place or situation in which {he is where he should be} 4 in whatever place, situation, or respect in which {there is never peace where men are greedy} 5 a) to or toward the place to which {the bus will take you where you're going} b) to a place in which {she never goes where she's not wanted} 6 to or toward whatever place {go where you please} 7 [Colloq.] WHEREAS The use of where in place of that to introduce a noun clause, though widespread in informal usage, is objected to by some [I see where the tax rates are going up] pron. 1 the place or situation in, at, or to which {he lives two miles from where he works} 2 what or which place {where do you come from?} •n. the place (of an event) {to announce the when and where of the marriage} [ME wher < OE hwær, akin to Ger wo & to war- in warum: for IE base see WHAT]
whereabouts (hwer´э bauts´, wer´-) •adv. 1 near or at what place? where? 2 [Obs.] about or concerning which •n. [with sing. or pl. v.] the place where a person or thing is {to know the whereabouts of a person} Also [Rare] where´a·bout´ (-baut´)
whereas (hwer æz´, wer-) conj. 1 it being the case that; in view of the fact that: used in the preamble to a formal document {whereas the following incidents have occurred} 2 while on the contrary; but on the other hand {she is slender, whereas he is stout} •n. pl. -as´es a statement beginning with whereas
whereat (-æt´) conj. [Archaic] at which point {he turned to leave, whereat she began to weep}
whereby (-bai´) •adv. [Archaic] by what? how? {whereby did you expect to profit?} conj. by which; by means of which {a device whereby to make money}
wherefore (hwer´ för´, wer´-) •adv. [Archaic] for what reason or purpose? why? {wherefore are you angry?} conj. 1 for which {the reason wherefore we have met} 2 on account of which; because of which; therefore {we are victorious, wherefore let us rejoice} •n. the reason; cause {never mind the why and wherefore} [ME hwarfore: see WHERE & FOR]
wherefrom (hwer frûm´, wer-) •adv., conj. from which
wherein (-in´) •adv. [Archaic] in what way? how? {wherein is it wrong?} conj. in which {the room wherein he lay} [ME hwerin: see WHERE & IN]
whereinto (-in´tu, -in tu:´) conj. into which
whereof (-ûv´) •adv., conj. of what, which, or whom {the things whereof he spoke} [ME: see WHERE & OF]
whereon (-än´) •adv. [Archaic] on what? {whereon do you rely?} conj. on which {the hill whereon we stand}
wheresoever (hwer'sou ev´эr, wer'-) •adv., conj. at, in, or to whatever place; wherever: an emphatic form Also [Old Poet.] where'so·e'er´ (-er´)
wherethrough (hwer θru:´, wer-) conj. [Archaic] through which
whereto (-tu:´) •adv. to what? toward what place, direction, or end? conj. to which {the place whereto they hurry} [ME hwerto]
whereunto (-ûn´tu:, -эn tu:´) •adv., conj. archaic var. of WHERETO
whereupon (hwer' э pän´, wer'-; hwer´э pän', wer´-) conj. 1 upon which {the ground whereupon he had fallen} 2 at which; upon which; as a consequence of which {she told a tale, whereupon he laughed heartily}
wherever (hwer ev´эr, wer-) •adv. [Colloq.] where: an emphatic form expressing surprise or bewilderment {wherever did you hear that?} conj. in, at, or to whatever place or situation {he thinks of us, wherever he is} Also [Old Poet.] wher·e'er´ (-er´) [ME]
wherewith (hwer wið´, wer-; -wiθ´) •adv. [Archaic] with what? {wherewith shall he be saved?} conj. with which {lacking the money wherewith to pay his debts} pron. that with which {to have wherewith to stock one's larder} •n. [Rare] WHEREWITHAL [ME wher with]
wherewithal (hwer´wið öl', wer´-) •n. that with which something can be done; necessary means, esp. money: usually with the {the wherewithal to continue one's education} •adv., conj. archaic var. of WHEREWITH
wherry (hwer´i:, wer´-) pl. -ries •n. 1 a light rowboat used on rivers 2 a racing scull for one person 3 [Brit.] a large, broad, but light barge, used for moving freight •vt. -ried, -ry·ing to transport in a wherry [ME whery < ? whirren, WHIR, with suggestion of fast movement]
whet (hwet, wet) whet´ted, whet´ting •vt. 1 to sharpen by rubbing or grinding (the edge of a knife or tool); hone 2 to make keen; stimulate {to whet the appetite} •n. 1 an act of whetting 2 something that whets (the appetite, etc.) whet´ter •n. [ME whetten < OE hwettan, to make keen < hwæt, sharp, keen, bold < IE base *kwed-, to pierce, sharpen, whet > prob. L (tri)quetrus, (three-)cornered]
whether (hweð´эr, weð´-) conj. 1 if it be the case or fact that: used to introduce an indirect question {ask whether she will help} 2 in case; in either case that: used to introduce alternatives, the second of which is introduced by or or by or whether [whether he drives or (whether he) flies, he'll be on time]: the second alternative is sometimes merely implied or understood [we don't know whether he'll improve (or not)] 3 either {taxation to support the war, whether just or unjust} pron. [Archaic] which (esp. of two): used interrogatively and relatively whether or no in any case [ME < OE hwæther (akin to Ger weder, neither) < IE *kwotero-, which (of two) < base *kwo-, who (> WHAT) + compar. suffix]
whetstone (hwet´stoun', wet´-) •n. an abrasive stone for sharpening knives or other edged tools [ME whetston < OE hwetstan < hwettan (see WHET) + stan, STONE]
whew (whyu:, hyu:; often unvoiced) •interj. an exclamation or sharp breathing sound as of relief, surprise, disgust, or dismay [echoic]
whey (hwei, wei) •n. the thin, watery part of milk, that separates from the thicker part (curds) after coagulation, as in cheese making whey´ey (-i:) •adj. [ME whei < OE hwæg, akin to Du wei < ? IE base *kwei-, slime, muck: see OBSCENE]
wheyface (-feis') •n. 1 a pale or pallid face 2 a person having such a face whey´faced' •adj. [prec. + FACE]
which (hwich, wich) pron. 1 what one (or ones) of the number of persons, things, or events mentioned or implied? {which of the men answered? which do you want?} 2 the one (or ones) that {he knows which he wants} 3 who, whom, or that: used as a relative in a restrictive or nonrestrictive clause referring to the thing or event (or, archaically, person) specified in the antecedent word, phrase, or clause [the black hat, which is on the table; the war which had just ended]: also used with a preposition and referring to a specified antecedent [the town in which he was born] 4 either, or any, of the persons, things, or events previously mentioned or implied; whichever {take which you prefer} 5 a thing or fact that {you are late which reminds me, where were you yesterday?} •adj. 1 what one or ones (of the number mentioned or implied) {which man (or men) answered? which books did he choose?} 2 whatever; no matter what {try which method he pleased, he could not succeed} 3 being the one just mentioned {he is very old, which fact is important} [ME whiche < OE hwylc, hwelc, for *hwa-lic, lit., who like (akin to Goth hwileiks, OHG hwelīh, Ger welch): see WHO & -LY¹]
whichever (hwich ev´эr, wich-) pron., adj. 1 any one (of two or more) {he may choose whichever (desk) he wishes} 2 no matter which {whichever (desk) he chooses, they won't be pleased}
whichsoever (hwich'sou ev´эr, wich'-) pron., adj. whichever: an emphatic form
whicker (hwik´эr, wik´-) •vi. 1 to utter a partly stifled laugh; snicker; titter 2 to neigh or whinny [echoic]
whid (hwid, hwûd) whid´ded, whid´ding •vi. [Scot.] to move nimbly [? akin to OE hwitha, ON hvitha, a squall]
whidah (bird) (hwid´э) WHYDAH (BIRD)
whiff (hwif, wif) •n. 1 a light puff or gust of air or wind; breath 2 a slight wave or gust of odor; faint momentary smell {a whiff of garlic} 3 an inhaling or exhaling, as of tobacco smoke Æ 4 [Colloq.] an unsuccessful attempt at hitting the ball in golf or baseball •vt. 1 to blow or propel (tobacco smoke, etc.) with a puff or gust; waft Æ 2 [Colloq.] to cause (a batter) to strike out in baseball •vi. 1 to blow or move in puffs, as in smoking Æ 2 [Colloq.] to miss the ball, in golf, or strike out, in baseball whiff´er •n. [echoic]
whiffet (hwif´it, wif´-) •n. 1 a little whiff, or puff 2 [Colloq.] an insignificant, esp. young, person [dim. of prec.]
whiffle (hwif´эl, wif´-) -fled, -fling •vi. 1 to blow fitfully; blow in puffs or gusts: said of the wind 2 to shift or veer about; vacillate •vt. to blow or scatter with or as with a puff of wind [freq. of WHIFF]
whiffler (hwif´lэr, wif´-) •n. a person who vacillates or shifts position frequently in argument [< prec. + -ER]
whiffletree (hwif´эl tri:', wif´-) •n. var. of WHIPPLETREE
Whig (hwig, wig) •n. 1 a member of a political party in England (fl. 18th to mid-19th cent.) which championed reform and parliamentary rights: it later became the Liberal Party Æ 2 in the American Revolution, a person who opposed continued allegiance to Great Britain and supported the Revolution Æ 3 a member of an American political party (c. 1834-56) opposing the Democratic Party and advocating protection of industry and limitation of the power of the executive branch of government 4 [also w-] one who propounds or subscribes to a Whig interpretation of history •adj. 1 of or characteristic of Whigs 2 [also w-] of or designating historical interpretation which finds in events an uninterrupted line of progress against reactionary forces and often regards the present as a natural and inevitable result of the past Whig´gish •adj. [shortened form of whiggamore (applied to Scot Covenanters who marched on Edinburgh in 1648), an erratic form of Scot whiggamaire < whig, a cry to urge on horses + mare, horse]
Whiggery (-эr i:) •n. the practices and principles of Whigs, esp. of English Whigs Also Whig´gism
whigmaleerie or whigmaleery (hwig'mэ lir´i:, wig'-) pl. -ries •n. [Chiefly Scot.] 1 a fanciful notion, whim, etc. 2 a fanciful contrivance; gewgaw [fanciful coinage]
while (hwail, wail) •n. a period or space of time {a short while} conj. 1 during or throughout the time that {we waited while she dined} 2 at the same time that {while you're up, close the door} 3 a) although on the one hand {while he was not poor, he had no ready cash} b) whereas; and on the other hand {the walls are green, while the ceiling is white} 4 [Dial.] until •prep. [Archaic] until •vt. whiled, whil´ing to spend (time) in a pleasant way; cause to pass idly: often with away {to while away the afternoon} [< the n., but meaning prob. infl. by wile] between whiles now and then; at intervals the while at the same time; during this very time worth one's while worth time, consideration, etc.; profitable in some way [ME < OE hwil, akin to Ger weile < IE base *kweye-, to rest > L quies, quiet]
whiles (hwailz, wailz) •adv. [Chiefly Scot.] SOMETIMES conj. [Now Chiefly Dial.] WHILE [ME < while (see WHILE) + adv. gen. -s]
whilom (hwai´lэm, wai´-) •adv. [Archaic] at one time; formerly •adj. formerly such; former {their whilom friends} [ME whilum < OE hwilum, dat. pl. of hwil, WHILE]
whilst (hwailst, wailst) conj. [Now Chiefly Brit., etc.] WHILE [ME whilest, extended < whiles, WHILES]
whim (hwim, wim) •n. 1 a sudden fancy; idle and passing notion; capricious idea or desire 2 a kind of winch or capstan, consisting of a vertical drum with extended arms to which one or more horses may be hitched: formerly used in mines to raise ore or water SYN. CAPRICE [short for WHIM-WHAM]
whimbrel (hwim´brэl, wim´-) •n. a small curlew (Numenius phaeopus), with a pale stripe along the dark-brown crown [earlier whimrel, prob. echoic of its cry]
whimper (hwim´pэr, wim´-) •vi. to make low, whining, broken sounds, as in crying or in fear •vt. to utter or say with a whimper •n. a whimpering sound or cry SYN. CRY whim´per·ing·ly •adv. [? akin to WHINE]
whimsical (hwim´zi kэl, wim´-) •adj. 1 full of or characterized by whims or whimsy 2 oddly out of the ordinary; fanciful; freakish 3 subject to sudden change; unpredictable whim´si·cal·ly •adv.
whimsicality (hwim'zi kæl´э ti:, wim'-) •n. 1 the quality of being whimsical: also whim´si·cal·ness 2 pl. -ties a whimsical speech, notion, or action; caprice
whimsy (hwim´zi:, wim´-) pl. -sies' •n. 1 an odd fancy; idle notion; whim 2 curious, quaint, or fanciful humor {poems full of whimsy} 3 something odd or whimsical, as an art object, piece of writing, etc. Also sp. whim´sey, pl. -seys' SYN. CAPRICE [prob. < fol.]
whim-wham (hwim´hwæm', wim´wæm') •n. 1 a fanciful ornament; bauble; trinket 2 an odd notion; fancy; whim Æ the whim-whams [Colloq.] an uneasy, nervous feeling; the jitters [< ?]
whin¹ (hwin, win) •n. FURZE [ME < obs. Dan hvine, swamp grass < IE base *wei-, slime, dirt > WHEY]
whin² (hwin, win) •n. any of several hard, igneous or basaltic rocks, occurring as dikes or flows Also whin´stone [ME (Northern) quin < ?]
whinchat (hwin´chæt', win´-) •n. a brown and buff migrating European thrush (Saxicola rubetra) that frequents heaths and meadows [WHIN¹ + CHAT¹, n.]
whine (hwain, wain) whined, whin´ing •vi. 1 a) to utter a peevish, high-pitched, somewhat nasal sound, as in complaint, distress, or fear b) to make a prolonged, high-pitched sound like this 2 to complain or beg in a childishly undignified way, as with a whine •vt. to utter with or as with a whine •n. 1 the act or sound of whining 2 a complaint uttered in a whining tone whin´er •n. whin´ing·ly •adv. [ME whinen < OE hwinan, akin to ON hvina < IE base *wei-, to whiz, hiss > WHISTLE, WHISPER]
whingding (hwiŋ´diŋ', wiŋ´-) •n. slang var. of WINGDING
whinge (winj) [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.) Colloq.] whinged, whinge´ing •vi. to whine •n. a whine or complaint [OE hwinsian < Gmc *hwinisōjan]
whinny¹ (hwin´i:, win´-) -ni·er, -ni·est •adj. covered with whin, or furze [WHIN¹ + -Y²]
whinny² (hwin´i:, win´-) whin´nied, whin´ny·ing •vi. to neigh in a low, gentle, contented way: said of a horse •vt. to express with a whinny •n. pl. -nies the whinnying of a horse, or a similar sound [prob. echoic]
whiny (hwai´ni:, wai´-) whin´i·er, whin´i·est •adj. of, given to, or characterized by whining {a whiny child} Also sp. whin´ey whin´i·ness •n.
whip (hwip, wip) whipped or whipt, whip´ping •vt. 1 to move, pull, jerk, snatch, throw, etc. suddenly: usually with out, off, up, etc. {to whip out a knife} 2 a) to strike, as with a strap or rod; lash; beat b) to punish in this manner 3 to force, drive, compel, or urge by or as by whipping 4 to strike as a whip does {the rain whipped her face} 5 to attack with stinging words; flay 6 to wind (cord or thread) around (a rope, etc.) so as to prevent fraying 7 to fish (a stream, etc.) by making repeated casts with a rod and line 8 to beat (egg whites, cream, etc.) with a fork, whisk, mixer, etc. so as to incorporate air and make frothy 9 to sew (a seam or hem) with a loose, overcasting or overhand stitch 10 [Colloq.] to defeat or outdo, as in a contest 11 Naut. to hoist by means of a rope passing through an overhead pulley •vi. 1 to move, go, or pass quickly and suddenly {he whipped down the stairs} 2 to flap or thrash about in a whiplike manner {flags whipping in high wind} 3 to cast with a fishing rod, using a quick, whiplike motion •n. [ME whippe < MDu wippe] 1 an instrument for striking or flogging, consisting generally of a stiff or flexible rod with a lash attached to one end 2 a blow, cut, etc. made with or as with a whip 3 a person who uses a whip, as a coachman or a huntsman who whips on the hounds 4 a) an officer of a political party, as in Congress or Parliament, who maintains discipline and enforces attendance (also party whip) b) [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.)] a call issued to party members in a lawmaking body to be in attendance to vote on a certain issue {a three-line whip} 5 a whipping motion 6 a dessert made of sugar and whipped cream, stiffly beaten egg whites, or gelatin, and often fruit 7 something resembling a whip in its action, as a windmill vane, kind of eggbeater, etc. 8 a hoisting apparatus consisting of a single rope passing through an overhead pulley 9 a flexible vertical rod for use as a radio antenna: also whip antenna SYN. BEAT whip in to bring together or assemble, as a party whip does whip into shape [Colloq.] to bring by vigorous action into the proper or desired condition whip up 1 to rouse; excite {to whip up enthusiasm} 2 [Colloq.] to prepare quickly and efficiently [ME whippen < MDu wippen, to swing, move up and down < IE *weib-, to turn, swing: see VIBRATE]
whip hand 1 the hand in which a driver holds a whip 2 the position of advantage or control
whip scorpion any of various tropical or subtropical arachnids (esp. order Uropygi) resembling the scorpion but having a long, whiplike tail at the end of the abdomen and no sting
whip snake 1 any of various long, slender, nonpoisonous colubrine snakes that often live in trees 2 any of several poisonous elapine snakes (genera Demansia and Denisonia) of Australia
whipcord (-körd') •n. 1 a hard, twisted or braided cord used for whiplashes, etc. 2 a strong worsted cloth with a hard, diagonally ribbed surface
whiplash (-læsh') •n. 1 the flexible striking part of a whip Æ 2 a sudden, severe bending and jolting of the neck, as in an auto accident, often causing injury to the neck muscles, vertebrae, etc.
whipped cream rich sweet cream stiffened as by whipping and used as a topping on desserts, etc.: also whip cream
whipper (hwip´эr, wip´-) •n. a person or thing that whips
whipper-in (-эr in´) pl. -pers-in´ •n. 1 [Chiefly Brit.] a huntsman's assistant who keeps the hounds together in a pack 2 [Historical] WHIP (n. 4a)
whippersnapper (hwip´эr snæp'эr, wip´-) •n. an insignificant, esp. young, person who appears impertinent or presumptuous [extended < whip-snapper, one who snaps whips]
whippet (hwip´it, wip´-) •n. any of a breed of slender, swift dog resembling a small greyhound, used esp. as a racing dog [dim. < WHIP]
whipping (hwip´iŋ, wip´-) •n. 1 the action of a person or thing that whips; esp., a flogging or beating, as in punishment 2 cord, twine, etc. used to whip, or bind
whipping boy 1 orig., a boy brought up together with a young prince and required to take the punishment for the latter's misdeeds 2 SCAPEGOAT (sense 2)
whipping cream sweet cream with a high percentage of butterfat, that can be whipped until stiff
whipping post a post to which offenders are tied to be whipped as a legal punishment
Whipple (hwip´эl, wip´-), George Hoyt (hoit) 1878-1976; U.S. pathologist
whippletree (hwip´эl tri:', wip´-) •n. SINGLETREE [< WHIP + TREE]
whippoorwill (hwip´эr wil', wip´-) pl. -wills' •n.or -will' a dark, insect-eating, nocturnal nightjar (Caprimulgus vociferus) of E North America [echoic of its cry]
whipsaw (hwip´sö', wip´-) •n. any of several long-bladed saws; esp., a crosscut saw with a tapering blade, from 5 to 7½ feet long and with a handle at each end, used usually by two persons Æ vt. 1 to cut with a whipsaw 2 to defeat or get the best of (a person) two ways at once, as, in faro, by winning two different bets in a single play
whipstall (-stöl') •n. a stunt in flying in which the airplane first goes into a stall during a steep climb, then drops or whips suddenly nose downward
whipstitch (-stich') •vt., vi. Sewing to overcast or whip •n. a stitch made in this way
whipstock (-stäk') •n. the handle of a whip
whipworm (-wørm') •n. any of a genus (Trichuris) of roundworms with a whiplike front portion, parasitic in the intestines of mammals: it is usually c. 5 cm (c. 2 in.) long
whir or whirr (hwør, wør) whirred, whir´ring •vi., vt. to fly, revolve, vibrate, or otherwise move quickly with a whizzing or buzzing sound •n. a sound like this, as that made by a bird's wings or a propeller [ME (Northern) quirren, prob. < Scand, as in Dan hvirre, Norw kvirra, akin to ON hverfa, to turn: for IE base see WHARF]
whirl (hwørl, wørl) •vi. 1 to move rapidly in a circular manner or as in an orbit; circle swiftly {couples whirling round the dance floor} 2 to rotate or spin fast; gyrate 3 to move, go, drive, etc. swiftly 4 to seem to spin; reel {my head is whirling} •vt. 1 to cause to rotate, revolve, or spin rapidly 2 to move, carry, drive, etc. with a rotating motion {the wind whirled the leaves} 3 [Obs.] to hurl or throw •n. [ME wherwille < ON hverfill, akin to Ger wirbel] 1 the act of whirling 2 a whirling motion 3 something whirling or being whirled {a whirl of dust} 4 a round of parties, etc., one after another 5 a tumult; uproar; stir 6 a confused or giddy condition {his head in a whirl} Æ give it a whirl [Colloq.] to try something; make an attempt whirl´er •n. [ME whirlen < ON hvirfla, akin to hverfa: see WHIRR]
whirligig (hwørl´i gig', wørl´-) •n. 1 a child's toy that whirls or spins, as a pinwheel 2 MERRY-GO-ROUND 3 something that seems to whirl, or revolve in a cycle 4 a whirling motion or course [ME whirlgigge: see WHIRL & GIG¹]
whirligig beetle any of a small family (Gyrinidae) of bluish-black gregarious beetles found darting about in circles on the surface of ponds, streams, etc.
whirlpool (hwørl´pu:l', wørl´-) •n. 1 water in rapid, violent, whirling motion caused by two meeting currents, by winds meeting tides, etc. and tending to form a circle into which floating objects are drawn; vortex or eddy of water 2 anything like a whirlpool, as in violent motion
whirlpool bath a bath, as used in hydrotherapy, in which an agitating device propels a current of warm water with a swirling motion
whirlwind (-wind') •n. 1 a current of air whirling violently upward in a spiral motion around a more or less vertical axis that has a forward motion 2 anything resembling a whirlwind, as in violent or destructive force •adj. impetuous and speedy {a whirlwind courtship} sow the wind and reap the whirlwind to engage in, and suffer the consequences of, evil or folly: Hos. 8:7 [ME whirlwynd, prob. based on ON hvirfilvindr]
whirlybird (hwørl´i: børd', wørl´-) •n. colloq. term for HELICOPTER
whirry (hwør´i:, wør´-) -ried, -ry·ing •vt., vi. [Scot.] to whir; hurry
whish (hwish, wish) •vi. to move with a soft, rushing sound; whiz; swish •n. a sound so made [echoic]
whisht (hwisht, wisht) •interj., n., vt. [Chiefly Scot. or Irish] hush; silence
whisk (hwisk, wisk) •n. 1 a) the act of brushing with a quick, light, sweeping motion b) such a motion 2 a small bunch of straw, twigs, hair, etc. used for brushing 3 a kitchen utensil consisting of wire loops fixed in a handle, for whipping egg whites, cream, etc. •vt. 1 to move, remove, carry, brush (away, off, out, etc.) with a quick, sweeping motion {to whisk out a handkerchief, to whisk off crumbs} 2 to whip (egg whites, cream, etc.) •vi. to move quickly, nimbly, or briskly [ME wisk < ON visk, wisp, brush < IE *weisk- (< *weis-, supple twig, broom) > Ger wischen, to wipe]
whisk broom a small, short-handled broom for brushing clothes, etc.
whisker (hwis´kэr, wis´-) •n. 1 [pl.] a) [Archaic] a mustache b) the hair growing on a man's face; esp., the beard on the cheeks 2 a) a hair of a man's beard b) any of the long bristly hairs growing on each side of the upper lip of a cat, rat, etc.; vibrissa 3 a very small, hairlike, single-crystal filament of high tensile strength, grown on certain metals, alloys, crystals, etc. and serving to reinforce the material 4 a very small amount 5 Naut. either of two spars extending laterally one on each side of the bowsprit, for spreading the jib and flying jib guys: also whisker boom whisk´ered •adj. whisk´er·y •adj. [ME wisker, something used for whisking: see WHISK & -ER]
whiskey (hwis´ki:, wis´ki:) pl. -keys or -kies •n. 1 a strong alcoholic liquor distilled from the fermented mash of grain, esp. of rye, wheat, corn, or barley 2 a drink of whiskey •adj. of, for, or made with whiskey Also sp. whis´ky, pl. -kies In general, U.S. and Irish usage favors whiskey, and Brit. and Cdn. usage favors whisky [short for usquebaugh < Ir uisce beathadh (or Gael uisge beatha) < uisce, WATER + beathadh, life < IE base *gwi-, *gwei-, to live > BIO-]
whiskey sour a cocktail of lemon juice, sugar, and whiskey, shaken with cracked ice
whisky-jack (-jæk') •n. CANADA JAY [earlier whisky-john, itself altered (as if < WHISKY + JOHN) < Cree dial. wiiskachaan, lit., blacksmith (so named from its coloring)]
whisper (hwis´pэr, wis´-) •vi. 1 to speak very softly, esp. without the resonance produced by the vibration of the vocal cords 2 to talk quietly or furtively, as in gossiping, maligning, or plotting 3 to make a soft, rustling sound like a whisper, as the leaves of a tree •vt. 1 to say very softly, esp. by whispering 2 to tell (something) to (someone) privately or as a secret •n. 1 the act or an instance of whispering; specif., soft, low speech produced with breath but, usually, without vibrating the vocal cords {to speak in a whisper} 2 a) something whispered b) a secret, hint, rumor, etc. 3 a soft, rustling sound like a whisper whis´per·er •n. [ME whisperen < OE hwisprian, akin to wispern < IE base *wei-, to whiz, hiss > WHINE, WHISTLE]
whispering (-iŋ) •adj. that whispers or is like a whisper: also whis´per·y •n. 1 the act of one who whispers 2 something whispered; whispered sound, speech, etc. whis´per·ing·ly •adv.
whispering campaign the organized dissemination of defamatory rumors by word of mouth, intended to discredit a political candidate, group, cause, etc.
whist¹ (hwist, wist) •interj. [Now Chiefly Dial.] hush! [ME: echoic]
whist² (hwist, wist) •n. a card game similar to bridge, of which it is the forerunner [altered < earlier whisk: prob. from the habit of whisking the tricks from the table as soon as played]
whistle (hwis´эl, wis´-) -tled, -tling •vi. 1 a) to make a clear, shrill sound or note, or a series of these, by forcing breath between the teeth or through a narrow opening made by puckering the lips b) to make a similar sound by sending steam through a small opening 2 to make a clear, shrill cry: said of some birds and animals 3 to move, pass, go, etc. with a high, shrill sound, as the wind 4 a) to blow a whistle b) to have its whistle blown {the train whistled} •vt. 1 to produce (a tune, etc.) by whistling 2 to summon, signal, direct, etc. by whistling •n. 1 an instrument for making whistling sounds, as by forcing the breath or steam through a slit into a cavity or against a thin edge 2 a clear, shrill sound made by whistling or blowing a whistle 3 the act of whistling 4 a signal, summons, etc. made by whistling 5 a whistling sound, as of the wind blow the whistle (on) [Slang] 1 to report or inform (on) 2 to cause to stop; call a halt (to) wet one's whistle [Slang] to take a drink whistle for to seek, expect, or demand but fail to get Æ whistle in the dark to pretend to be confident when faced with danger or defeat whis´tle·a·ble •adj. [ME whistlen < OE hwistlian: for IE base see WHISPER]
whistle-blower (-blou'эr) Æ n. a person who reports or informs on a wrongdoer, as in a government agency
Whistler (hwis´lэr, wis´-), James Abbott Mc·Neill (mэk ni:l´) 1834-1903; U.S. painter & etcher in England whistler (hwis´lэr, wis-) •n. 1 a person, animal, or thing that whistles 2 a) any of various birds having a whistling call or making a whistling sound in flight, as the goldeneye Æ b) HOARY MARMOT c) a horse affected with WHISTLING (sense 2) d) a radio wave, generated by lightning, high-energy electrons, etc. that travels along the earth's magnetic field lines and is heard as a whistling sound on radio receivers
whistle-stop (hwis´ªl stäp', wis´-) •n. 1 a small town, orig. one at which a train stopped only upon signal 2 a brief stop in a small town as part of a tour, esp. in a political campaign; orig., such a stop in which the candidate spoke from the rear platform of a train •vi. -stopped', -stop'ping to make a series of whistle-stops
whistling (hwis´liŋ, wis´-) •n. 1 the act or sound of a person, animal, or thing that whistles 2 shrill, noisy breathing by a horse, caused by a disorder of the air passages [ME whistlinge < OE hwistlung]
whistling swan a large, white, North American swan (Olor columbianus) usually having a yellow spot in front of the eye: it winters along the Atlantic coast of U.S.
whit (hwit, wit) •n. the least bit; jot; iota: chiefly in negative constructions {not a whit the wiser} [Early ModE respelling of wiht, a WIGHT¹]
White (hwait, wait) 1 Byron R(aymond) 1917- ; U.S. jurist: associate justice, U.S. Supreme Court (1962-93) 2 Edward Douglass 1845-1921; U.S. jurist: chief justice of the U.S. (1910-21) 3 E(lwyn) B(rooks) 1899-1985; U.S. writer 4 Patrick (Victor Martindale) 1912- ; Austral. writer 5 Stan·ford (stæn´fэrd) 1853-1906; U.S. architect 6 Walter (Francis) 1893-1955; U.S. author & civil rights leader white (hwait, wait) whit´er, whit´est •adj. 1 having the color of pure snow or milk; of the color of radiated, transmitted, or reflected light containing all of the visible rays of the spectrum; opposite to black: see COLOR 2 of a light or pale color; specif., a) gray; silvery; hoary b) very blond c) pale; wan; pallid; ashen {a face white with terror} d) light-yellow or amber e) blank (said of a space unmarked by printing, writing, etc.) f) of a light-gray color and lustrous appearance (said of silver and other metals) g) made of silver h) snowy {a white Christmas} 3 lacking color; colorless {white creme de menthe} 4 clothed in white; wearing a white habit {the white Friars} 5 morally or spiritually pure; spotless; innocent 6 free from evil intent; harmless {white magic} 7 a) having a light-colored skin; Caucasoid b) of, controlled by, or restricted to Caucasoids Æ c) [Slang] honest; honorable; fair; decent [< notions of racial superiority] 8 being at white heat 9 reactionary, counterrevolutionary, or royalist, as opposed to RED (adj. 4a) 10 [Rare] happy; fortunate; auspicious: said of times and seasons •n. 1 a) white color b) a white pigment, paint, or dye 2 the state of being white; specif., a) fairness of complexion b) purity; innocence 3 a white or light-colored part; specif., a) the albumen of an egg b) the white part of the eyeball c) a blank space in printing, writing, etc. d) the white or light-colored part of meat, wood, etc. 4 something white or light-colored; specif., a) white cloth b) [pl.] white garments or vestments; white uniform c) a white breed, esp. of pig d) [pl.] a highly refined, usually bleached flour e) short for WHITE BREAD f) short for WHITE WINE 5 [also W-] a person with a light-colored skin; member of the Caucasoid division of humans 6 [often W-] a member of a reactionary or counterrevolutionary faction, party, etc. in certain European countries 7 [pl.] LEUKORRHEA 8 Archery a) [Archaic] a white target b) the outermost ring of a target c) a hit on this ring •vt. whit´ed, whit´ing [ME whiten < OE hwitian < the adj.] 1 to make white; whiten 2 to leave blank spaces in or around (printed or written matter, illustrations, etc.): often with out bleed white to drain (a person) completely of money, resources, etc. [ME hwit < OE, akin to Ger weiss, ON hvitr, MDu wit < IE *kweid-, to gleam, bright, white > WHEAT, OSlav švěšta, a light, candle] White river flowing from NW Ark. through S Mo. into the Mississippi: 690 mi. (1,110 km)
white admiral a butterfly (Limenitis arthemis) of Canada and the E U.S., with showy, white bands on its wings
white alkali 1 refined soda ash 2 the white crust formed on some alkali soils, consisting of a mixture of sodium and magnesium sulfates and sodium chloride
white amur GRASS CARP
white ant TERMITE
white arsenic ARSENOUS ACID
white bass (bæs) a silvery, striped, North American, freshwater food and game bass (Morone chrysops) of the same family (Percichthyidae) as striped bass
white birch Æ 1 PAPER BIRCH 2 a European birch (Betula pendula) with silvery-white bark, widely grown in the U.S.
white blood cell LEUKOCYTE Also called white blood corpuscle
white book an official government report bound in white
white bread bread of a light color, made from finely sifted wheat flour
white bush (scallop) a variety of summer squash having a saucer-shaped, white fruit, scalloped around the edges
white cedar 1 a) an evergreen tree (Chamaecyparis thyoides) of the cypress family, growing in swampy land in the E U.S. b) its soft, light-colored wood 2 a) the American arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis), growing in cool areas of the NE U.S. b) its soft, brittle, durable wood
white clover a creeping species of clover (Trifolium repens) with white flower clusters, common in lawns
white coal water as a source of power
white crappie a silvery crappie (Pomoxis annularis): see CRAPPIE
white dwarf the smallest type of dwarf star: it is very dim, despite great density and temperature, due to its planetlike size
white elephant 1 an albino elephant 2 something from which little profit or use is derived; esp., such a possession maintained at much expense Æ 3 any object no longer desired by its owner, but of possible value to others
white feather an indication of cowardice: chiefly in show the white feather [from the notion that a white feather in a gamecock's tail shows bad breeding, hence cowardice]
white flag a white banner or cloth hoisted as a signal of truce or surrender
white flight [Slang] the residential movement of white people from the city to the suburbs or from one suburb to another in an effort to evade members of some ethnic group, esp. black people
white fox the arctic fox in winter, when its fur is white
White Friar a Carmelite friar: so called from the white cloak that is worn
white gasoline (or gas) gasoline without tetraethyl lead
white gold gold alloyed variously with nickel, zinc, etc. to give it a white, platinumlike appearance, for use in jewelry
white goods 1 household linens, as sheets, pillowcases, towels, etc. 2 large household appliances, as refrigerators, stoves, etc. [from their typical color]
white heat 1 a temperature at which material glows white 2 a state of intense emotion, excitement, etc.
white hole a hypothetical portal in space through which matter and energy emerge: thought to be an outlet for black holes and a possible explanation for quasars
white hope [Colloq.] any person who is expected to bring honor, glory, etc. to some group, place, etc. [term orig. applied to Caucasoid boxers who it was thought might defeat black heavyweight champion Jack Johnson (c. 1910)]
White House , the Æ 1 official residence of the President of the U.S.: a white mansion in Washington, D.C. Æ 2 the executive branch of the U.S. government
white knight a rescuer; specif., a company that prevents a takeover, viewed as unfavorable, of another company by offering better terms for a merger with it [after a character in Lewis CARROLL's Through the Looking-Glass]
white lead 1 a poisonous, heavy, white powder, basic lead carbonate, 2PbCO3·Pb(OH)2, formerly used in paints, pottery glazes, etc. 2 any of several white pigments containing lead, as lead sulfate
white leather soft leather suitable for babies' shoes, etc., made by tanning hides with alum and salt
white lie a lie concerning a trivial matter, often one told to spare someone's feelings
white light Physics light, as sunlight, that is a mixture of wavelengths ranging from red to violet
white lightning [Slang] homemade whiskey, esp. strong corn whiskey, typically colorless and usually not aged
white man's burden the alleged duty of the white peoples to bring their civilization to other peoples regarded as backward: phrase popularized by Kipling and other apologists for imperialism
white matter whitish nerve tissue of the brain and spinal cord, consisting chiefly of medullated nerve fibers: distinguished from GRAY MATTER (sense 1)
white meat 1 any light-colored meat, as veal, pork, the breast of poultry, etc. 2 [Now Dial.] cheese, butter, or some other dairy product [ME hwitmete < OE: see WHITE & MEAT]
white metal any of various light-colored alloys, esp. any of those, as pewter, containing much lead or tin
White Mountains range of the Appalachian system, in N N.H.: highest peak, Mt. Washington [from the appearance of the higher peaks]
white mustard an annual mustard (Brassica hirta) that has seeds which are ground and made into a paste used as a condiment
White Nile see NILE
white noise a sound containing a blend of all the audible frequencies distributed equally over the range of the frequency band [by analogy with WHITE LIGHT]
white oak 1 any of a number of oaks having leaves with rounded lobes, acorns that mature in one season, whitish or grayish bark, and hard, impervious wood; esp., the American white oak (Quercus alba) of E North America 2 the wood of any such tree, used in barrels, furniture, etc.
white paper 1 an official government report, orig. one bound in white paper 2 any in-depth, authoritative report
white pepper pepper ground from the husked, dried seeds of the nearly ripe pepper berry
white perch 1 a small, silvery, edible bass (Morone americana) of the same family (Percichthyidae) as white bass, found in coastal waters of the E U.S. 2 a freshwater drum fish (Aplodinotus grunniens) of the central U.S. 3 a) SILVER PERCH b) [South] WHITE CRAPPIE
white pine 1 a) a pine (Pinus strobus) of E North America, with bluish-green or grayish-green needles in bundles of five, hanging brown cones, and soft, light wood b) the wood of this tree 2 any of various closely related pines having needles in groups of five
white plague tuberculosis, esp. of the lungs
White Plains city in SE N.Y., near New York City: scene of a battle (1776) of the Revolutionary War: pop. 49,000 [< ?]
white poplar 1 a large Old World poplar (Populus alba), having lobed leaves with white or gray down on the undersides, now widespread in the U.S. Æ 2 a) TULIP TREE b) TULIPWOOD (sense 1)
white potato POTATO (sense 2a)
white race loosely, the Caucasoid group of mankind: see CAUCASOID
white rat an albino rat, esp. one used in biological experiments
white room a room from which all contaminants have been eliminated and in which temperature, humidity, and pressure are controlled: used for assembly and repair of precision mechanisms, in preventing infection, etc.
White Russia BELORUSSIA
White Russian BELORUSSIAN
white sale a sale of household linens
white sapphire a colorless variety of corundum
white sauce a cooked sauce for vegetables, meat, fish, etc. made of fat or butter, flour, milk, cream, or stock, and seasoning
White Sea arm of the Barents Sea, extending into NW European Russia: c. 36,000 sq. mi. (93,240 sq. km)
white shark a huge, man-eating mackerel shark (Carcharodon carcharias) of tropical and warm seas: also called great white shark
white slave a woman enticed or forced into or held in prostitution for the profit of others white´-slave´ •adj.
white slaver a person who entices or forces women to become white slaves white slavery
white supremacy the social, economic, and political repression and exploitation of nonwhite peoples, esp. blacks, by white people, based on notions of racial superiority white supremacist
white tie 1 a white bow tie, properly worn with a swallow-tailed coat 2 a swallow-tailed coat and its accessories
white vitriol ZINC SULFATE
White Volta see VOLTA
white walnut BUTTERNUT (senses 1 & 2)
white water 1 foaming, whitish water, as in whitecaps, rapids, etc. 2 a light-colored water over a shallow area
white whale BELUGA (sense 2)
white wine any light-colored wine made usually from grapes with light-colored skins
whitebait (-beit') pl. -bait' •n. 1 any of the fry of various silvery fishes used as food, as herring fry Æ 2 a smelt fish (Allosmerus elongatus) of the Pacific 3 SILVERSIDE
whitebeard (-bird') •n. a white-bearded old man
white-bread (-bred') •adj. [Colloq.] 1 of or characteristic of the white middle class, its values, etc. 2 bland, conventional, etc.
whitecap (-kæp') •n. a wave with its crest broken into white foam
Whitechapel (hwait´chæp'эl) district of E London, part of Greater London borough of Tower Hamlets
white-collar (-käl´эr) •adj. Æ designating or of clerical or professional workers or others employed in work not essentially manual [from the formerly typical white shirts worn by such workers]
white-collar crime a crime, as fraud, embezzlement, etc., committed by a person in business, government, or a profession in the course of occupational activities
whited sepulcher a hypocrite: Matt. 23:27
white-eye (hwait´ai', wait´-) •n. any of a family (Zosteropidae) of small passerine birds of SE Asia, S Africa, Australia, etc., usually having rings of white feathers around the eyes
white-faced (-feist') •adj. 1 having a pale face; pallid 2 having a white mark on the front of the head, as a horse
Whitefield (hwit´fi:ld', wit´-), George 1714-70; Eng. Methodist evangelist
whitefish (hwait´fish', wait´-) pl. (see FISH) -fish' or -fish'es •n. 1 any of various white or silvery, edible freshwater trouts (genera Prosopium and Coregonus) found in cool lakes of the Northern Hemisphere 2 any of various other similar fishes, as a tilefish (Caulolatilus princeps) of the Pacific 3 BELUGA (sense 2)
whitefly (-flai') pl. -flies' •n. any of a family (Aleyrodidae) of tiny homopteran insects having scalelike larvae and winged adults covered with a white, powdery wax
white-footed mouse (hwait´fut'эd, wait´-) DEER MOUSE
Whitefriars (hwait´frai'эrz, wait´-) district of central London, near Fleet Street: formerly the site of a Carmelite monastery
white-haired (-herd') •adj. 1 having white or very light hair 2 [Colloq.] FAIR-HAIRED (sense 2)
Whitehall (hwait´höl', wait´-) 1 former royal palace in Westminster, London, destroyed by fire (1698): also Whitehall Palace 2 street in Westminster, south of Trafalgar Square, site of several government offices •n. the British government
Whitehead (hwait´hed', wait´-), Alfred North 1861-1947; Eng. mathematician & philosopher, in the U.S. after 1924 whitehead (hwait´hed', wait´-) •n. nontechnical term for MILIUM
white-headed (hwait´hed'id, wait´-) •adj. 1 having a white head; specif., having white or very light hair, feathers, etc. on the head 2 [Colloq.] FAIR-HAIRED (sense 2)
Whitehorse (hwait´hörs', wait´-) capital of the Yukon Territory, Canada, in the S part: pop. 14,000 [after the Whitehorse Rapids nearby, which were so named from a fancied resemblance to the tossing mane of a white horse]
white-hot (hwait´hät´, wait´-) •adj. 1 having a temperature at which material glows white 2 extremely angry, excited, enthusiastic, etc.
white-livered (hwait´liv'эrd, wait´-) •adj. cowardly; craven
whitely (-li:) •adv. so as to be white; with a white or pale appearance
whiten (hwait´ªn, wait´-) •vt., vi. to make or become white or whiter [ME whitnen < ON hvitna < hvitr, WHITE]
whitener (-эr) •n. a person or thing that whitens; specif., a bleach or other substance used for whitening
whiteness (hwait´nis, wait´-) •n. 1 the quality or condition of being white; specif., a) white color or appearance b) paleness; pallor c) freedom from stain 2 a white substance or part
whitening (hwait´ªn iŋ, wait´-) •n. 1 the act or process of making or becoming white 2 a preparation used for making something white
whiteout (-aut') •n. Meteorol. an optical phenomenon, usually occurring in polar regions, in which the snow-covered ground blends into a uniformly white sky blotting out shadows, clouds, horizon, etc. and destroying all sense of depth, direction, or distance
white-out (-aut') •n. a quick-drying fluid, typically white, applied with a small brush to a piece of paper so as to cover typed or written errors and make a blank surface for corrections •vt. to cover with this fluid Also white out
white-shoe (-shu:') •adj. designating or characteristic of a business company, esp. a law firm or brokerage, in which the partners belong almost exclusively to the WASP upper class elite and are thought of as being cautious and conservative [from the white shoes fashionable at Ivy-League colleges in the 1950's]
whitesmith (-smiθ') •n. 1 a worker in white metals; esp., a tinsmith 2 a worker in iron who does finishing, polishing, or galvanizing
whitetail (-teil') •n. any of various animals with white about the tail, as the white-tailed deer
white-tailed deer (-teild´) a common American deer (Odocoileus virginianus) having a tail that is white on the undersurface, a white-spotted red coat in summer, and a diffuse brownish-gray coat in winter
whitethroat (-θrout') •n. any of several birds having white around the throat; esp., certain Old World warblers (genus Sylvia) or the white-throated sparrow
white-throated sparrow (-θrout´id) a common North American sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) having a square white patch on the throat and black-and-white stripes on the head
whitewall (-wöl') •adj. designating or of a pneumatic tire with a circular white band on the outer sidewall Also white´-wall' •n. a whitewall tire
whitewash (-wösh') •n. 1 a mixture of lime, whiting, size, water, etc., for whitening walls, etc. 2 a cosmetic formerly used for making the skin fair 3 a) a glossing over or concealing of faults or defects in an effort to exonerate or give the appearance of soundness b) something said or done for this purpose Æ 4 [Colloq.] Sports a defeat in which the loser scores no points •vt. 1 to cover with whitewash 2 to gloss over or conceal the faults or defects of; give a favorable interpretation of or a falsely virtuous appearance to Æ 3 [Colloq.] Sports to defeat (an opponent) soundly white´wash'er •n.
white-water (-wöt'эr) •adj. of or having to do with recreational rafting, kayaking, etc. on rivers with rapids, fast currents, etc.
whitewing (-wiŋ') •n. Æ [Old Colloq.] a street cleaner wearing a white uniform
whitewood (-wud') •n. 1 any of a number of trees with white or light-colored wood, as the tulip tree, linden, cottonwood, etc. 2 the wood of any of these trees
whitey (hwait´i:, wait´-) •n. [Slang] a white person or white people collectively: a usually hostile term of contempt
whither (hwið´эr, wið´-) •adv. to what place, point, condition, result, etc.? where?: used to introduce questions {whither are we drifting?} conj. 1 to which place, point, condition, result, etc.: used relatively {the island whither we drifted} 2 to whatever place, point, condition, result, etc.; wherever {let them go whither they will} Whither is now largely replaced by where except in poetical or rhetorical usage [ME whider < OE hwider: see WHAT & HITHER]
whithersoever (hwið'эr sou ev´эr, wið'-) •adv., conj. [Archaic] to whatever place; wheresoever
whitherward (hwið´эr wэrd, wið´-) •adv., conj. [Archaic] in what or which direction; where: used relatively or interrogatively
whiting¹ (hwait´iŋ, wait´-) pl. -ings •n.or -ing any of various edible marine fishes, including the silver hake, the corvina of the California coast, and various kingfishes [ME < MDu wijting < wit, WHITE]
whiting² (hwait´iŋ, wait´-) •n. powdered chalk used in making paints, inks, etc. [ME hwiting: see WHITE, vt. + -ING]
whitish (-ish) •adj. somewhat white whit´ish·ness •n.
whitleather (hwit´leð'эr, wit´-) •n. WHITE LEATHER
whitlow (hwit´lou, wit´-) •n. FELON² [ME whitflowe, whitflawe: orig. uncert.; ? akin to WHITE & FLAW¹]
Whitman (hwit´mэn, wit´-) 1 Marcus 1802-47; U.S. pioneer & missionary in the Northwest 2 Walt(er) 1819-92; U.S. poet
Whitmonday (hwit´mûn´dei, wit´-; -di:) •n. the Monday immediately following Whitsunday [after Whitsunday]
Whitney (hwit´ni:, wit´-), Eli 1765-1825; U.S. inventor, esp. of the cotton gin Whitney (hwit´ni:, wit´-), Mount mountain of the Sierra Nevada Range, EC Calif., in Sequoia National Park: highest peak in the U.S. outside of Alas.: 14,495 ft. (4,419 m) [after J. D. Whitney (1819-96), U.S. geologist]
Whitsun (hwit´sэn, wit´-) •adj. of or observed on Whitsunday or at Whitsuntide [ME whitsone < whitsondei, understood as Whitsun Day: see WHITSUNDAY]
Whitsunday (hwit´sûn´dei, wit´-; -di:; -sэn dei') •n. PENTECOST (sense 2) [ME whitsondei < OE Hwita Sunnandæg, lit., white Sunday: prob. from the white garments of candidates for baptism]
Whitsuntide (-sэn taid') •n. 1 the week beginning with Whitsunday 2 the first three days of that week [ME whitsunetide: see WHITSUN & TIDE¹]
Whittier (hwit´i: эr, wit´-) city in SW Calif.: suburb of Los Angeles: pop. 78,000 [so named (1887) by Quaker settlers, after prec.] Whittier (hwit´i: эr, wit´-), John Green·leaf (gri:n´li:f') 1807-92; U.S. poet
Whittington (hwit´iŋ tэn, wit´-), Richard c. 1358-1423; Eng. merchant: lord mayor of London: associated with various Eng. legends of a Dick Whittington
whittle (hwit´эl, wit´-) -tled, -tling •vt. 1 a) to cut or pare thin shavings from (wood) with a knife b) to make or fashion (an object) in this manner 2 to reduce, destroy, or get rid of gradually, as if by whittling away with a knife: usually with down, away, etc. {to whittle down the cost of a project} •vi. to whittle wood; often, specif., to cut away aimlessly at a stick, etc. •n. [Obs.] a large knife whit´tler •n. [< obs. whittle, a knife < ME whyttel, var. of thwitel, dim. < OE thwitan, to cut < IE base *twei-, to strike, cut] Whittle (hwit´ªl), Sir Frank 1907- ; Eng. engineer & pioneer developer of jet propulsion engines whittle (hwit´эl, wit´-) -tled, -tling •vt. 1 a) to cut or pare thin shavings from (wood) with a knife b) to make or fashion (an object) in this manner 2 to reduce, destroy, or get rid of gradually, as if by whittling away with a knife: usually with down, away, etc. {to whittle down the cost of a project} •vi. to whittle wood; often, specif., to cut away aimlessly at a stick, etc. •n. [Obs.] a large knife whit´tler •n. [< obs. whittle, a knife < ME whyttel, var. of thwitel, dim. < OE thwitan, to cut < IE base *twei-, to strike, cut]
whity (hwait´i:, wait´-) -i·er, -i·est •adj. WHITISH
whiz or whizz (hwiz, wiz) whizzed, whiz´zing •vi. 1 to move swiftly with or as with a buzzing or hissing sound {the bus whizzed by him} 2 to make the buzzing or hissing sound of something moving swiftly through the air 3 [Slang] to urinate •vt. to cause to whiz, esp. by rotating rapidly •n. 1 a whizzing sound or movement Æ 2 [see WIZ] a) [Slang] a person who is very quick, adroit, or skilled at something; expert {a whiz at football} b) [Old Slang] something strikingly excellent, attractive, etc. {a whiz of a car}3 [Slang] the act of urinating: often in the phrase take a whiz [echoic]
whiz-bang or whizz-bang (-bæŋ´) •n. 1 [Old Slang] a high explosive shell of great speed whose sound of explosion occurs immediately after its sound of flight; also, a fireworks device suggestive of this Æ 2 [Slang] WHIZ (sense 2) Æ adj. [Slang] extremely clever, useful, impressive, etc.
who (hu:) pron. obj. whom, poss. whose 1 what or which person or persons: used to introduce a direct, indirect, or implied question {who is he? I asked who he was; I don't know who he is} 2 a) (the, or a, person or persons) that (used to introduce a relative clause) {the man who came to dinner} b) any person or persons that; whoever (used as an indefinite relative with an implied antecedent) {who steals my purse steals trash} The use of who rather than whom as the object of a verb or preposition [who did you see there? who was it written by?], although widespread at all levels of speech, is still objected to by some as who should say as if one should say [ME who, ho, hwo < OE hwa, masc. & fem., hwæt, neut., who? what? (akin to L qui): for IE base see WHAT] WHO World Health Organization
whoa (hwou, wou, hou) •interj. stop!: used esp. in directing a horse to stand still [for HO]
who'd (hu:d) 1 who would 2 who had
whodunit (hu: dûn´it) •n. [Colloq.] a mystery novel, play, etc. [< WHO + DONE + IT: coined (1930) by D. Gordon in American News of Books]
whoever (hu: ev´эr) pron. 1 any person that; whatever person {whoever wins gets a prize} 2 no matter what person {whoever said it, it's not so} 3 what person? who?: an emphatic usage {whoever told you that?}
whole (houl) •adj. 1 a) in sound health; not diseased or injured b) [Archaic] healed (said of a wound) 2 not broken, damaged, defective, etc.; intact {a whole yolk} 3 containing all the elements or parts; entire; complete {a whole set, whole blood} 4 not divided up; in a single unit {a whole cheese} 5 constituting the entire amount, extent, number, etc. {the whole night} 6 having both parents in common {a whole brother} 7 in all aspects of one's being, including the physical, mental, social, etc. {the whole man} 8 Arith. integral and not mixed or fractional {28 is a whole number} •adv. [Colloq.] completely; absolutely {a whole new ballgame} •n. 1 the entire amount, quantity, extent, or sum; totality {the whole of the estate} 2 a thing complete in itself, or a complete organization of integrated parts; a unity, entirety, or system SYN. COMPLETE as a whole as a complete unit; altogether a whole lot (or bunch, etc.) of [Colloq.] very many {they ate a whole lot of hamburgers} Æ made out of whole cloth completely fictitious or false; made up on the whole all things considered; in general whole´ness •n. [ME (Midland) hool, for hol, hal < OE hal, healthy, whole, hale: akin to Ger heil, ON heill < IE base *kailo-, sound, uninjured, auspicious > Welsh coel, omen]
whole blood 1 blood for transfusion from which none of the elements have been removed 2 FULL BLOOD (sense 1)
whole gale a wind whose speed is 55 to 63 miles per hour: see BEAUFORT SCALE
whole milk milk from which none of the butterfat or other elements have been removed
whole note Music a note having four times the duration of a quarter note: see NOTE, illus.
whole number zero or any positive or negative multiple of 1; integer {28 is a whole number}
whole step Music an interval consisting of two adjacent half steps Also whole tone
wholehearted (-härt'id) •adj. doing or done with all one's energy, enthusiasm, etc.; hearty; sincere; earnest whole´heart'ed·ly •adv. whole´heart'ed·ness •n.
whole-hog (houl´hög´) •adj., adv. Æ [Slang] without reservation; complete(ly)
wholesale (-seil') •n. the selling of goods in relatively large quantities and usually at lower prices than at retail, esp. such selling to retailers for resale to consumers •adj. 1 of, connected with, or engaged in such selling {wholesale prices} 2 extensive, sweeping, or indiscriminate {wholesale criticism} •adv. 1 in wholesale amounts or at wholesale prices 2 extensively, sweepingly, or indiscriminately {to reject proposals wholesale} •vt., vi. -saled', -sal'ing to sell wholesale at wholesale in wholesale quantities or at wholesale prices by wholesale 1 at wholesale 2 extensively, sweepingly, or indiscriminately whole´sal'er •n. [ME holesale (< phr. by hole sale, by wholesale): see WHOLE & SALE]
wholesome (houl´ sэm) •adj. 1 promoting or conducive to good health or well-being; healthful {a wholesome climate} 2 tending to improve the mind or character {a wholesome movie for children} 3 characterized by health and vigor of mind and body; sound {a wholesome girl} 4 tending to suggest health, or soundness {a wholesome look about the boys} whole´some·ly •adv. whole´some·ness •n. [ME holsom, akin to ON heilsamr, Ger heilsam: see WHOLE & -SOME¹]
whole-souled (-sould') •adj. WHOLEHEARTED
whole-wheat (-hwi:t´, -wi:t´) •adj. 1 ground from entire kernels of wheat {whole-wheat flour} 2 made with whole-wheat flour {whole-wheat bread}
wholism (houl´iz'эm) •n. alt. sp. of HOLISM whol·is´tic •adj.
who'll (hu:l, hu:´эl) 1 who shall 2 who will
wholly (houl´li:, hou´li:) •adv. to the whole amount or extent; totally; entirely [ME holi: see WHOLE & -Y²]
whom (hu:m) pron. objective case of WHO: see usage note at WHO on the use of who and whom [ME < OE hwam, dat. of hwa, WHO]
whomever (hu:m ev´эr) pron. objective case of WHOEVER
whomp (hwämp, wämp) •vt. [Colloq.] 1 to beat, strike, hit, thump, etc. 2 to defeat decisively •n. the act or sound of whomping whomp up [Colloq.] to prepare quickly; whip up [echoic]
whomsoever (hu:m'sou ev´эr) pron. objective case of WHOSOEVER
whoof (hwuf, wuf) •n. a deep, abrupt, breathy sound {the bear's startled whoof} •vi. to make this sound •interj. an exclamation of relief, surprise, etc. [echoic]
whoop (hwu:p, wu:p; hu:p) •n. a loud shout, cry, or noise; specif., a) a shrill and prolonged cry, as of excitement, exultation, ferocity, etc. b) a hoot, as of an owl c) the gasping sound marking the convulsive intake of air that immediately follows a fit of coughing in whooping cough •vi. to utter, or move along with, a whoop or whoops •vt. 1 to utter with a whoop or whoops 2 to drive, urge on, chase, bring about, etc. with whoops •interj. an exclamation of excitement, joy, exultation, etc. Æ not worth a whoop [Colloq.] worth nothing at all Æ whoop it (or things) up [Slang] 1 to create a noisy disturbance, as in celebrating 2 to create enthusiasm (for) whoop´er •n. [ME houpen, to call, shout, echoic (or < ? OFr houper, to call afar off, cry out)]
whoop-de-do or whoop-de-doo (-di: du:´) •n. [Colloq.] noisy or excited activity, commotion, or fuss; hoopla, ballyhoo, to-do, etc. [extended < WHOOP]
whoopee (hwup´i:, hwu:´pi:; wup´i:, wu:´pi:) •interj. an exclamation of great joy, exultation, merry abandonment, etc. •n. 1 a shout of whoopee! Æ 2 hilarious revelry; noisy fun Æ make whoopee 1 [Slang] to revel boisterously 2 to make love [< WHOOP]
whooping cough (hu:´piŋ, hwu:´-; hup´-) an acute infectious disease, usually affecting children, caused by a bacillus (Bordetella pertussis) and characterized by a mucous discharge from the nose and later by repeated attacks of coughing that end in a forced intake of breath, or whoop
whooping crane (hwu:p´iŋ, wu:p´-; hu:p´-) a large, white, North American crane (Grus americana), noted for its whooping call: now nearly extinct
whoopla (hu:p´lä') •n. var. of HOOPLA
whoops (wups) •interj. an exclamation uttered as in regaining one's balance after stumbling or one's composure after a slip of the tongue
whoops-a-daisy (wups´э dei'zi:) •interj. UPSY-DAISY
whoosh (hwush) •vi. 1 to make the quick, hissing, or rushing sound of something moving swiftly through the air 2 to move swiftly with or as with this sound {rockets whooshed by} •vt. to cause to whoosh •n. a whooshing sound or movement •interj. an exclamation imitating this or expressing surprise, fatigue, etc. [echoic]
whop (hwäp, wäp) whopped, whop´ping •vt., vi. [Colloq.] 1 to hit, strike, beat, etc. 2 to defeat decisively •n. [Colloq.] a sharp, resounding blow, stroke, thump, etc. [< ME wappen, prob. echoic]
whopper (-эr) •n. [Colloq.] 1 anything extraordinarily large 2 a great lie [< prec.]
whopping (-iŋ) •adj. [Colloq.] extraordinarily large or great; colossal [< WHOP + -ING]
whore (hör; often hu:r, hur) •n. 1 PROSTITUTE 2 any woman who engages in promiscuous sexual intercourse •vi. whored, whor´ing 1 to be a whore 2 to have sexual intercourse with whores •vt. [Obs.] to make a whore of Now usually contemptuous or abusive whore after to pursue something immoral or depraved [ME hore < OE < or akin to ON hora < IE base *kā-, to like, be fond of, desire > L carus, dear, precious, Latvian kārs, lecherous]
who're (hu:´эr, hur) who are
whoredom (hör´dэm) •n. 1 prostitution or fornication 2 Bible a being false to God; idolatry: Hos. 4:12 [ME hordom < ON hordomr]
whorehouse (-haus') •n. a place where prostitutes are for hire; brothel [ME horehowse]
whoremonger (-mûŋ'gэr, -mäŋ'gэr) •n. a man who has sexual intercourse or associates with whores; specif., a pimp, or pander Also whore´mas'ter
whoreson (-sэn) •n. [Archaic] 1 a bastard 2 a scoundrel; knave: a general epithet of abuse •adj. [Archaic] vile; knavish [ME hores son, lit., son of a whore, bastard]
whorish (-ish) •adj. of or typical of a whore; lewd
whorl (hwörl, hwørl) •n. 1 a small flywheel on a spindle, as for regulating the speed of a spinning wheel 2 anything with a coiled or spiral appearance; specif., a) any of the circular ridges that form the design of a fingerprint b) Bot. a circular growth of leaves, petals, etc. about the same point on a stem c) Zool. any of the turns in a spiral shell whorled •adj. [ME whorwyl, dial. var. of wherwille, WHIRL]
whortleberry (hwørt´ªl ber'i:) pl. -ries •n. 1 a) either of two European blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus or V. uliginosum) having pink flowers and blue or blackish edible berries with a powdery bloom b) any of these berries Æ 2 any of various American plants, as the huckleberry [< SW Brit dial. form of earlier HURTLEBERRY]
who's (hu:z) 1 who is 2 who has
who's who [also W- W-] 1 who the important people are 2 a book or list containing short biographies of prominent persons of a certain place, profession, etc.
whose (hu:z) pron. that or those belonging to whom: used without a following noun {whose is this? whose will last longer?} possessive pronominal adj. of, belonging to, made, or done by whom or which {whose book is lost? a play whose popularity endures} [ME whos, hwas < OE hwæs, gen. of hwa, WHO]
whosesoever (hu:z'sou ev´эr) pron. of whomsoever
whosever (hu:z ev´эr) pron. of whomever
whosis (hu:´zis) •n. [Slang] any person or thing: jocular substitute for a name forgotten or not known [contr. < who is this]
whoso (hu:´sou) pron. [Archaic] whoever; whosoever [ME wha swa < OE: see WHO & SO¹]
whosoever (hu:'sou ev´эr) pron. whoever: an emphatic form
whr watt-hour
whump (hwûmp) •n., vt., vi. [Colloq.] THUMP
why (hwai, wai) •adv. for what reason, cause, or purpose? with what motive?: used in direct, indirect, and implied questions {why did he go? he told her why he went} conj. 1 because of which; on account of which {he knows of no reason why you shouldn't go} 2 the reason for which {that is why he went} •n. pl. whys the reason, cause, motive, purpose, etc. {never mind the why and wherefore} •interj. an exclamation used to express surprise, impatience, indignation, etc., or merely as an expletive, as to preface a remark why not [Colloq.] all right; it's acceptable: used to express qualified approval of what has been proposed, suggested, etc. [ME hwi < OE, instrumental case of hwæt, WHAT]
whydah (bird) (hwid´э) any of several chiefly brown-and-black, African passerine birds (family Ploceidae): the male has long, drooping tail feathers during the breeding season [altered < widow bird, by assoc. with Ouidah (sometimes sp. Whidah), seaport in Dahomey]
WI 1 West Indian 2 West Indies 3 Wisconsin
Wichita (wich´э tö') city in S Kans., on the Arkansas River: pop. 304,000 [after the Wichita (cf. Caddo wí·c'ita, Osage wícita), a Caddoan people who relocated in a village at the site of the city in Kansas as Civil War refugees (1862-67)]
Wichita Falls city in NC Tex.: pop. 96,000 [see WICHITA: the Wichita had lived near the site of this city from late 18th c. to the Civil War]
wick¹ (wik) •n. a piece of cord or tape, or a thin bundle of threads, in a candle, oil lamp, cigarette lighter, etc., designed to absorb fuel by capillary attraction and, when lighted, to burn with a small, steady flame [ME wicke < OE weoca, akin to Ger wieche, wick yarn < IE base *weg-, to weave: see VEIL]
wick² (wik) •n. a village, town, or hamlet: now archaic except as compounded in bailiwick and (often in the form -wich) in place names, as in Warwick, Greenwich [ME wik < OE wic, akin to MHG wich, village < early WGmc borrowing < L vicus, group of houses: see ECO-]
wicked (wik´id) •adj. 1 morally bad or wrong; acting or done with evil intent; depraved; iniquitous 2 generally bad, painful, unpleasant, etc., but without any moral considerations involved {a wicked blow on the head} 3 naughty in a playful way; mischievous Æ 4 [Slang] showing great skill {he plays a wicked game of golf} SYN. BAD¹ wick´ed·ly •adv. wick´ed·ness •n. [ME < wikke, evil, akin to OE wicce, WITCH]
wicker (wik´эr) •n. 1 a thin, flexible twig; withe 2 a) such twigs or long, woody strips woven together, as in making baskets or furniture b) WICKERWORK (sense 1) •adj. made of or covered with wicker [ME wiker < Scand, as in Swed dial. viker, Dan dial. vigger, willow, Swed vika, to bend < IE base *weig- > WEAK]
wickerwork (-wørk') •n. 1 things made of wicker 2 WICKER (n. 2a)
wicket (wik´it) •n. 1 a small door or gate, esp. one set in or near a larger door or gate 2 a small window or opening, as for a bank teller or in a box office 3 a small gate for regulating the flow of water to a water wheel or for emptying a canal lock 4 Cricket a) either of two sets of three vertical sticks (stumps) each, with two small pieces (bails) resting on top of them b) the playing space between the two wickets c) an unplayed or unfinished inning d) a player's turn at bat [from orig. resemblance to a gate] Æ 5 Croquet any of the small wire arches through which the balls must be hit [ME wiket < NormFr (for OFr guichet), dim. < MDu wijk, a curve < IE *weig- > WEAK]
wicketkeeper (-ki:'pэr) •n. Cricket the fielder whose position is just behind the batsman's wicket
wickiup (wik´i: ûp') •n. 1 a small, temporary dwelling or shelter of grass, brush, etc. over a frame, traditionally used by Indian peoples of the Great Basin and SW U.S. 2 any crude shack or shelter [< Fox wiikiyaapi, house: orig. referred to houses of the style of Algonquian peoples of the Great Lakes region; akin to WIGWAM]
Wickliffe (wik´lif), John alt. sp. of John WYCLIFFE
Wicklow (wik´lou) county of Leinster province, SE Ireland, on the Irish Sea: 782 sq. mi. (2,025 sq. km); pop. 87,000
wicopy (wik´э pi:) •n. 1 a) LEATHERWOOD b) BASSWOOD (sense 1) 2 any of several species of willow herb, as fireweed [< Eastern Algonquian: cf. Abenaki wìgðbi, wìkðpi, inner bark, esp. of basswood or leatherwood]
widdershins (wid´эr shinz') •adv. var. of WITHERSHINS
wide (waid) wid´er, wid´est •adj. 1 extending over a large area; esp., extending over a larger area from side to side than is usual or normal {a wide bed} 2 of a specified extent from side to side {three miles wide} 3 of great extent, range, or inclusiveness {a wide variety, wide reading} 4 roomy; ample; loose; full {wide pants} 5 open or extended to full width {eyes wide with fear} 6 landing, striking, or ending far from the point, issue, etc. aimed at: usually with of {wide of the target} Æ 7 having a relatively low proportion of protein: said of livestock feed 8 [Brit. Slang] shrewd and unscrupulous {a wide boy} 9 Phonet. LAX (adj. 5) •adv. 1 over a relatively large area; widely {to travel far and wide} 2 to a large or full extent; fully {with the door wide open} 3 so as to miss the point, issue, etc. aimed at; astray {shots that went wide} •n. 1 [Rare] a wide area 2 Cricket a ball bowled out of the batsman's reach, counted as a run for the batting team SYN. BROAD wide´ly •adv. wide´ness •n. [ME < OE wid, akin to Ger weit < IE *wi-itos, lit., gone apart (< bases *wi-, apart + *ei-, to go) > L vitare, lit., to go away from, avoid]
-wide (waid) combining form existing or extending throughout (a specified area) {statewide}
wide receiver Football a player eligible to receive a pass who usually takes a position on or near the line of scrimmage, but at some distance from the other members of the offensive team
wide-angle (waid´æŋ'gэl) •adj. designating or of a kind of camera lens that covers a wider angle of view than the ordinary lens
wide-awake (-э weik´) •adj. 1 completely awake 2 alert SYN. WATCHFUL wide´-a·wake´ness •n.
wide-eyed (-aid') •adj. 1 with the eyes opened widely, as because of surprise or fear 2 naive or unsophisticated
widen (waid´ªn) •vt., vi. to make or become wide or wider
wide-open (waid´ou´pэn) •adj. 1 opened wide Æ 2 having no laws, or being lax in enforcing laws, prohibiting or regulating prostitution, gambling, liquor sales, etc. {a wide-open city}
wide-screen (-skri:n') •adj. of or having to do with a film made for projection on a screen much wider than it is high: usually from a ratio of 1.66 to 1 up to 2.55 to 1
widespread (-spred') •adj. spread widely; esp., a) widely extended {with widespread arms} b) distributed, circulated, or occurring over a wide area or extent {widespread benefits, widespread rumors}
widespreading (-iŋ) •adj. spreading out widely
widgeon (wij´эn) pl. -eons •n.or -eon alt. sp. of WIGEON
widget (wij´it) •n. any small, unspecified gadget or device, esp. one that is hypothetical [altered < GADGET]
widow (wid´ou) •n. 1 a woman who has outlived the man to whom she was married at the time of his death; esp., such a woman who has not remarried Æ 2 Card Games a number of cards dealt into a separate pile, typically for the use of the highest bidder 3 Printing an incomplete line, as that ending a paragraph, carried over to the top of a new page or column: generally avoided by rewriting copy to eliminate the line or fill it out Æ 4 [Colloq.] a woman whose husband is often away indulging in a specified hobby, sport, etc. {a golf widow} •vt. to cause to become a widow or widower: usually in the past participle {widowed by the war} wid´ow·hood' •n. [ME widwe < OE widewe, akin to Ger witwe, L vidua < IE *widhewo-, separated < base *weidh-, to separate: see DIVIDE]
widowbird (wid´ou børd') •n. WHYDAH (BIRD) [calque of Port viuva, widowbird, lit., widow (< L vidua: see WIDOW): from the resemblance of its dark plumage to a widow's mourning clothes]
widower (wid´ou эr) •n. a man who has outlived the woman to whom he was married at the time of her death; esp., such a man who has not remarried [ME widewer, extended < wedow, widower < OE widewa, masc. of widewe, WIDOW]
widow's cruse a supply that is apparently inexhaustible: 2 Kings 4:1-7
widow's mite a small gift or contribution freely given by one who can scarcely afford it: Mark 12:41-44
widow's peak a point formed by hair growing down in the middle of a forehead: formerly supposed to foretell early widowhood
widow's walk a platform with a rail around it, built onto the roof of some New England houses, as along the coast, formerly for observing ships at sea
width (widθ, witθ) •n. 1 the fact, quality, or condition of being wide; wideness 2 the size of something in terms of how wide it is; distance from side to side 3 a piece of something of a certain width {two widths of cloth} [< WIDE, by analogy with LENGTH, BREADTH]
widthwise (-waiz') •adv., adj. in the direction of the width: also width´ways' (-weiz')
Widukind (vi:´du: kint) 8th cent. A.D.; Saxon warrior: leader of the Saxons against Charlemagne
Wieland (vi:´länt) 1 Chris·toph Mar·tin (křis´tôf mäř´ti:n) 1733-1813; Ger. novelist, poet, & translator 2 Heinrich (Otto) 1877-1957; Ger. chemist
wield (wi:ld) •vt. 1 to handle and use (a tool or weapon), esp. with skill and control 2 to exercise (power, influence, etc.) 3 [Obs.] to govern or rule SYN. HANDLE wield´er •n. [ME welden, blend of OE wealdan & wieldan, with form < the latter: akin to Ger walten < IE base *wal-, to be strong > L valere, to be strong]
wieldy (wi:l´di:) wield´i·er, wield´i·est •adj. that can be wielded easily; manageable
Wien (vi:n) Ger. name of VIENNA
Wiener (wi:´nэr), Norbert 1894-1964; U.S. mathematician & pioneer in cybernetics wiener (wi:´nэr) •n. a smoked sausage of beef or beef and pork, etc., enclosed in a membranous casing and made in cylindrical links a few inches long; frankfurter: the casing is now usually removed before packaging: also wie´ner·wurst' (-wørst') [short for wienerwurst < Ger Wiener wurst, Vienna sausage]
Wiener schnitzel (vi:´nэr shnit'sэl) a breaded veal cutlet with a garnish on it, esp. a lemon slice and rolled anchovy [Ger < Wiener, of Vienna + schnitzel, cutlet, dim. of schnitz, a cut, piece < schneiden, to cut]
wienie (wi:´ni:) •n. [Colloq.] WIENER
Wiesbaden (vi:s´bäd'ªn) resort city in W Germany, on the Rhine: capital of the state of Hesse: pop. 269,000
Wiesel (wi zel´), Elie (el´i:) 1928- ; U.S. writer, born in Romania
wife (waif) pl. wives (waivz) •n. 1 orig., a woman: still so used in midwife, housewife, etc. 2 a married woman; specif., a woman in her relationship to her husband take to wife to marry (a specified woman) wife´hood' •n. wife´less •adj. wife´ly, -li·er, -li·est, •adj. [ME < OE wif, woman, akin to Swed viv, Ger weib < ? IE base *weip-, to twist, turn, wrap, in sense the hidden or veiled person]
wig (wig) •n. 1 a) a false covering of real or synthetic hair for the head, worn as part of a costume, to conceal baldness, etc. b) TOUPEE Æ 2 [Slang] variously, the hair, head, or mind •vt. wigged, wig´ging 1 to furnish with a wig or wigs Æ 2 [Slang] a) to annoy, upset, anger, etc. b) to make excited, ecstatic, frenzied, crazy, etc. (often with out) 3 [Brit. Colloq.] to scold, censure, rebuke, etc.: archaic except as a verbal noun [gave him a wigging] Æ vi. [Slang] to be or become wigged, or upset, excited, crazy, etc.: often with out [shortened < PERIWIG]
Wigan (wig´эn) city in NW England, in the county of Greater Manchester: pop. 81,000 wigan (wig´эn) •n. a canvaslike cotton cloth used to stiffen hems, lapels, etc. [after fol., where first made]
wigeon (wij´эn) •n. any of certain wild freshwater ducks; esp., a) the Eurasian wigeon (Anas penelope), the male of which has a cream-colored crown and reddish-brown head and neck b) BALDPATE [prob. < MFr vigeon < L vipio, small crane, of Balearic orig.]
Wiggin (wig´in), Kate Douglas (born Kate Smith) 1856-1923; U.S. educator & writer of children's novels
wiggle (wig´эl) -gled, -gling •vt., vi. to move or cause to move with short, jerky or twisting motions from side to side; wriggle shakily or sinuously •n. the act or an instance of wiggling [ME wigelen, prob. < MDu & MLowG wiggelen, freq. of wiggen, to move from side to side, akin to OE wegan, to move: for IE base see WAG¹]
wiggler (wig´lэr) •n. 1 a person or thing that wiggles 2 WRIGGLER
wiggly (-li:) -gli·er, -gli·est •adj. 1 that wiggles; wiggling 2 having a form that suggests wiggling; wavy {a wiggly line}
wiggy (wig´i:) -gi·er, -gi·est •adj. 1 [Now Rare] a) wearing a wig b) pompously formal or elegant Æ 2 [Slang] wild, exciting, crazy, etc.
Wight (wait), Isle of island in the English Channel, off the S coast of Hampshire, constituting a county of England: 147 sq. mi. (381 sq. km); pop. 121,000
wight¹ (wait) •n. 1 [Obs.] a living being; creature 2 [Archaic] a human being; person: now sometimes used in a patronizing or commiserating sense [ME wiht < OE, akin to Ger wicht, creature, Goth waihts, thing < IE base *wekti-, thing > OSlav veštǐ, thing]
wight² (wait) •adj. [Now Chiefly Dial.] strong, brisk, active, brave, etc. [ME wihte < ON vigt, neut. of vigr, skilled in arms, akin to OE wigan, to fight: for IE base see VICTOR]
wiglet (wig´lit) •n. a small wig; specif., a woman's hairpiece designed to supplement her own hair
Wigner (wig´nэr), Eugene Paul 1902- ; U.S. physicist, born in Hungary
Wigtown (wig´tэn) former county of SW Scotland, now in the region of Dumfries & Galloway
wigwag (wig´wæg') -wagged', -wag'ging •vt., vi. 1 to move back and forth; wag 2 to send (a message) by waving flags, lights, etc. back and forth using a code •n. 1 the act of sending messages in this way 2 a message so sent wig´wag'ger •n. [< obs. wig, to move + WAG¹]
wigwam (wig´wäm', -wöm') •n. a traditional dwelling of Indian peoples of E North America, consisting typically of a dome-shaped framework of poles covered with rush mats or sheets of bark [< Abenaki wìkðwαm, house]
Wilberforce (wil´bэr förs'), William 1759-1833; Eng. statesman & vigorous opponent of slavery
Wilbert (wil´bэrt) a masculine name [Ger Willebert < OHG willeo, WILL¹ + beraht, berht, BRIGHT]
Wilbur (wil´bэr) a masculine name [OE Wilburh: prob. a place name < *Wiligburh, lit., willow town]
wilco (wil´kou) •interj. I will comply with your request: used in radiotelephony [wil(l) co(mply)]
wild (waild) •adj. 1 living or growing in its original, natural state and not normally domesticated or cultivated {wild flowers, wild animals} 2 not lived in or cultivated; overgrown, waste, etc. {wild land} 3 not civilized; savage {a wild tribe} 4 not easily restrained or regulated; not controlled or controllable; unruly, rough, lawless, etc. {wild children} 5 characterized by a lack of social or moral restraint; unbridled in pursuing pleasure; dissolute, orgiastic, etc. {a wild rake, a wild party} 6 violently disturbed; turbulent; stormy {a wild seacoast} 7 in a state of intense excitement; specif., a) eager or enthusiastic, as with desire or anticipation {wild with delight} b) angered, frenzied, frantic, crazed, etc. {wild with desperation} 8 in a state of disorder, disarrangement, confusion, etc. {wild hair} 9 fantastically impractical; visionary {a wild scheme} 10 showing a lack of sound judgment; reckless; imprudent {a wild wager} 11 going wide of the mark aimed at; missing the target {a wild swing in boxing} 12 [Slang] extraordinary; remarkable {a wild success} 13 Card Games having any value specified by the holder: said of a card {deuces, when wild in poker, may be counted as aces, kings, etc.} •adv. in a wild manner; wildly; without aim or control {to shoot wild} •n. [usually pl.] a wilderness or wasteland run wild to grow, exist, or behave without control the wild the wilderness, nature, the out-of-doors, etc. wild´ly •adv. wild´ness •n. [ME wilde < OE, akin to Ger wild, prob. < IE base *wel-, shaggy hair, unkempt > WOOL, VOLE¹]
wild allspice SPICEBUSH (sense 1)
wild boar a hog (Sus scrofa) living wild in Europe, Africa, and Asia, from which domestic hogs were derived
wild card 1 Card Games a card that has been declared wild Æ 2 Sports any of the teams, other than those that finish in first and sometimes second place, that qualify for a championship play-off 3 [Slang] an element that cannot be predicted or controlled
wild carrot a common biennial weed (Daucus carota) of the umbel family, with finely divided foliage and umbels of white flowers: the cultivated carrot is derived from it
wild fig CAPRIFIG
wild hog 1 WILD BOAR 2 PECCARY
Wild Hunt Folklore a nighttime ride of spectral huntsmen across the countryside or the sky
wild hyacinth Æ 1 a camass (Camassia scilloides) of the E U.S., with bluish flowers 2 WOOD HYACINTH
wild indigo BAPTISIA
wild lettuce any of various wild, weedy species of lettuce, having small, dandelionlike flower heads with yellow or blue flowers, milky juice, and, often, prickly foliage; esp., a lettuce (Lactuca canadensis) of E North America
wild mustard any of several weedy mustards, esp. charlock
wild oats Æ 1 a woodland plant (Uvularia sessilifolia) of the lily family, with small, drooping, yellowish flowers, native to E North America 2 any of several wild grasses (genus Avena); esp., the wild progenitor (A. fatua) of the cultivated oat, having strong, twisted awns and commonly occurring as a weed, esp. in the W U.S.: also wild oat sow one's wild oats to be promiscuous or dissolute in one's youth before settling down
wild olive any of various trees resembling the olive or bearing olivelike fruits, as the Russian olive
wild pansy an uncultivated pansy, esp. a European species (Viola tricolor) that is the ancestor of the garden pansy, with petals in combinations of white, yellow, and purple
wild parsnip a tall, stout, biennial weed (Pastinaca sativa) of the umbel family, with pinnately compound leaves: regarded as the ancestor of the cultivated parsnip
wild pink 1 a) any of several catchflies Æ b) an early flowering catchfly (Silene caroliniana) of the E U.S., having lance-shaped leaves and bright-pink flowers in clusters Æ 2 an arethusa
wild pitch Baseball a pitch so erratic that the catcher cannot control it and a runner advances to another base: cf. PASSED BALL
wild rice 1 a tall, annual, aquatic grass (Zizania aquatica) of the U.S. and Canada, found along the swampy borders of lakes and streams 2 its edible grain
wild rose any of various roses growing wild, as eglantine
wild rubber rubber obtained from uncultivated trees
wild rye any of a genus (Elymus) of perennial grasses having erect or drooping, usually bristly, spikes: native to most parts of North America
wild turkey any wild form of the North American domesticated turkey: see TURKEY (sense 1a)
wild type the ordinary phenotype that is characteristic of most members of a species under natural conditions
wild vanilla a perennial plant (Trilisa odoratissima) of the composite family, with vanilla-scented foliage: found in the SE U.S.
Wild West [also w- W-] the western U.S. in its early frontier period of lawlessness
Wild West show a circuslike spectacle featuring horsemanship and other feats by cowboys, Indians, etc.
wildcat (waild´kæt') pl. -cats' or -cat' •n. 1 a) any of a large group of fierce, medium-sized, undomesticated cats, including the bobcat, Canada lynx, ocelot, serval, and caracal b) a house cat that has escaped from domestication (in this sense, usually wild cat) 2 any person regarded as like a wildcat in fierceness, aggressiveness, etc. Æ 3 an unsound or risky business scheme Æ 4 an oil well drilled in an area not previously known to have oil 5 Naut. a drum on a windlass, constructed to engage the links of a chain cable •adj. Æ 1 unsound or financially risky {a wildcat venture} Æ 2 designating or of an enterprise or undertaking that is illegal, unethical, irregular, unauthorized, etc.; specif., designating a labor strike not officially authorized by the union representing the strikers and in violation of a contract Æ -cat'ted, -cat'ting •vi. 1 to drill for oil in an area previously considered unproductive 2 to engage in wildcat enterprises, etc. Æ wild´cat'ter •n.
Wilde (waild), Oscar (Fingal O'Flahertie Wills) 1854-1900; Brit. playwright, poet, & novelist, born in Ireland
wildebeest (wil´dэ bi:st', vil´-) pl. -beests' •n.or -beest' GNU [Afrik < Du wild, wild + beeste, beast]
wilder (wil´dэr) •vt., vi. [Archaic] 1 to lose or cause to lose one's way 2 to bewilder or become bewildered [prob. < WILDERNESS] Wilder (wail´dэr) 1 Laura In·galls (iŋ´gэlz) (Mrs. Almanzo Wilder) 1867-1957; U.S. author of children's books 2 Thorn·ton (Niven) (θörn´tэn) 1897-1975; U.S. novelist & playwright
wilderness (wil´dэr nis) •n. 1 an uncultivated, uninhabited region; waste; wild 2 any barren, empty, or open area, as of ocean 3 a large, confused mass or tangle 4 [Obs.] a wild condition or quality SYN. WASTE [ME wildernesse < wilderne, wild place (< OE wilddeor, wild animal < wilde, WILD + deor, animal, DEER) + -nesse, -NESS] Wilderness (wil´dэr nis), the woodland region in NE Va., south of the Rapidan River: scene of a Civil War battle (May, 1864) between the armies of Grant and Lee
wilderness area an area of public land, as of virgin forest, preserved in its natural state by prohibiting by law the construction of roads, buildings, etc.
wild-eyed (waild´aid') •adj. 1 staring in a wild, distracted, or demented way 2 fantastically foolish, impractical, or extreme {wild-eyed ideas}
wildfire (-fair') •n. 1 orig., a) a highly destructive fire b) a highly flammable substance; specif., GREEK FIRE (now mainly in spread like wildfire, to be disseminated widely and rapidly, as a rumor) 2 [Now Rare] WILL-O'-THE-WISP
wildflower (-flau'эr) •n. 1 any flowering plant growing wild in fields, woods, etc. 2 its flower Also wild flower
wildfowl (-faul') pl. -fowls' or -fowl' a wild bird, esp. a game bird, as a wild duck, pheasant, or quail Also wild fowl •n.
wild-goose chase (-gu:s´) any search, pursuit, or endeavor regarded as being as futile as trying to catch a wild goose by chasing it
wilding (wail´diŋ) •n. 1 a) a wild plant; esp., a wild apple tree b) its fruit 2 a plant originally cultivated, but growing wild 3 [Rare] a wild animal •adj. [Old Poet.] not cultivated or domesticated; wild
wildlife (waild´laif') •n. all wild animals collectively; esp., the wild vertebrates hunted by humans
wildling (waild´liŋ) •n. an uncultivated plant or undomesticated animal [WILD + -LING¹]
wildwood (waild´wud') •n. a natural woodland or forest, esp. when unfrequented by humans
wile (wail) •n. 1 a sly trick; deceitful artifice; stratagem 2 a beguiling or coquettish trick: usually used in pl. 3 [Now Rare] craftiness; guile •vt. wiled, wil´ing to beguile; lure SYN. TRICK wile away to while away (time, etc.): by confusion with while [ME < Late OE wil < OE wigle, magic, divination, akin to wiglian, to take auspices, wicce, WITCH]
Wilfred or Wilfrid (wil´frid) a masculine name [OE Wilfrith < willa, a wish, WILL¹ + frithu, peace < Gmc *frithu < IE *pritu-, friendship < base *pri-, to like > Sans priya-, dear, beloved]
wilful (wil´fэl) •adj. alt. sp. of WILLFUL
Wilhelm (vil´helm) a masculine name
Wilhelmina (wil'hel mi:´nэ; Du vil'hel mi:´nä) 1 a feminine name 2 (born Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Maria) 1880-1962; queen of the Netherlands (1890-1948) [Ger Wilhelmine, fem. of Wilhelm: see WILLIAM]
Wilhelmine (vil´hel mi:n', wil´-; -main') •adj. of, characteristic of, or like William II of Germany, his reign, etc.
Wilhelmshaven (vil´helms hä'fэn) seaport in NW Germany, on the North Sea, in the state of Lower Saxony: pop. 101,000
wilily (wail´э li:) •adv. in a wily manner