wolf
Pluralwolves
Pluralwolves
- 1A large wild animal like a dog that lives and hunts in groups called packs.
Like a big wild cousin of a pet dog.
A wolf howled somewhere deep in the dark forest.
Wolves travel in packs and hunt together.
UsageOne wolf, two wolves (not
incorrect: wolfs). - 2
- 3A very greedy or harmful person or thing, especially hunger or being poor.
Like a hungry animal that eats up everything in its path.
Hunger was a wolf that never left the village alone.
The greedy landlord was a wolf who took everything the poor had.
UsageSay keep the wolf from the door.
Note
- 4A man who tries to start romantic or sexual relationships with many women.
Like someone who is always chasing after new people to date.
Everyone warned her that he was a wolf who chased every new woman in town.
He had a reputation as a wolf at every party he attended.
Similarwomanizer, philanderer, lothario, seducer
Less common meanings
- 5
- 6To go out hunting wild wolves, often to protect farm animals.
Like a hunting trip where the goal is to find and hunt wolves.
Every winter the men went wolfing in the hills, hoping to bring home a few pelts.
They went out to wolf after the pack killed several sheep.
- 7A sore or ulcer that slowly eats away at the flesh.
If God should send a cancer upon thy face, or a wolf into thy side
1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living.Here, wolf means a sore that eats away at the flesh around it.Note
- 8A kind of hunting spider that chases its prey instead of spinning a web to catch it.
- 9A harsh, unpleasant sound made by certain notes on a string instrument like a cello.
- 10A small worm-like young insect that eats and damages stored grain.
- 11A machine that cleans and loosens wool or other fibers by tearing them apart.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of wolf apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origin
It comes from Old English "wulf," going all the way back to the ancient Proto-Indo-European word for wolf.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- English wolf comes from Old English wulf. en.wiktionary.org
- The word ultimately descends from the Proto-Indo-European word for wolf. en.wiktionary.org