wolf

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Dictionary: wolf (wʊlf) pronunciation

n., pl., wolves (wʊlvz).

1. Either of two carnivorous mammals of the family Canidae, especially the gray wolf of northern regions, that typically live and hunt in hierarchical packs and prey on livestock and game animals.
2. The fur of such an animal.
3. Any of various similar or related mammals, such as the hyena.
The destructive larva of any of various moths, beetles, or flies.
One that is regarded as predatory, rapacious, and fierce.
Slang. A man given to paying unwanted sexual attention to women.
Music.
1. A harshness in some tones of a bowed stringed instrument produced by defective vibration.
2. Dissonance in perfect fifths on a keyboard instrument tuned to a system of unequal temperament.

tr.v., wolfed, wolf·ing, wolfs.
To eat greedily or voraciously: "The town's big shots were ... wolfing down the buffet" (Ralph Ellison).

idioms:

wolf at the door

Creditors or a creditor.

wolf in sheep's clothing

One who feigns congeniality while actually holding malevolent intentions.

[Middle English, from Old English wulf.]

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Britannica Concise Encyclopedia:

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Any of three extant species of canine. The gray, or timber, wolf (Canis lupus) is the ancestor of all domestic dogs. It once had the largest distribution of any mammal except human beings, but it is now found primarily in Canada, Alaska, the Balkans, and Russia. Wolves are intelligent and social. Their primary prey are deer, moose, and caribou, though they feed on many smaller animals as well. Because wolves have killed livestock, they have been persecuted by farmers and ranchers. A male gray wolf may be 7 ft (2 m) long and weigh up to 175 lb (80 kg); it is the largest living wild canid. Gray wolves live in hierarchical packs whose territories cover at least 38 sq mi (100 sq km) and hunt mostly at night. The much smaller red wolf (C. rufus), once widespread in the south-central U.S., has been bred in captivity and reintroduced. The Abyssinian wolf (C. simensis) of Ethiopia was formerly considered a jackal. See also dire wolf.

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Thesaurus:

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noun

Slang

Idioms:

See

verb

See

Idioms:

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Idioms beginning with wolf:
wolf in sheep's clothing

In addition to the idiom beginning with wolf, also see cry wolf; keep the wolf from the door; lone wolf.

Antonyms:

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Definition: consume sloppily and fast
Antonyms: nibble

Columbia Encyclopedia:

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wolf, carnivorous mammal of the genus Canis in the dog family. Once distributed over most of the Northern Hemisphere, wild wolves are now confined to the wilder parts of a reduced range. Three wolf species (the gray wolf, red wolf, and coyote) are generally recognized, although there is much local variation within them.

Other living members of the genus Canis include the jackal and the dog, which is classified as a subspecies (Canis lupus familiaris of the gray wolf. All Canis species can interbreed, producing fertile offspring; the Eskimos have interbred wolves and dogs to produce hardy animals for pulling sleds. The maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus, found in wooded areas of central South America, is not a true wolf, although it is a canine (member of the dog family). It has extremely long, stiltlike legs and an erectile mane on the neck. Strand wolf is a name for the brown hyena (not a canine) of Africa. The aardwolf is also a member of the hyena family.

The Gray Wolf

The most widespread is the gray wolf, C. lupus, of circumpolar distribution; in addition to the domestic dog, its subspecies include the timber wolf, the arctic wolf, and the dingo. Extinct in W Europe except in a few isolated pockets, it is still found in SE Europe, Russia, and much of Asia. In the New World it is found in wilderness forests and tundra from Greenland and the shores and islands of the Arctic Ocean to the extreme N United States. There is a healthy population in Alaska, but it has had endangered-species status in the 48 contiguous United States (except for Minnesota, where it has been listed as "threatened"). Thus protected, it has steadily increased its range since the late 1980s, especially in the Great Lakes region in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan and in the states surrounding Yellowstone National Park, where Canadian wolves were introduced in 1995 in the hope of restoring balance to the Yellowstone ecosystem. Canadian wolves were also introduced in central Idaho in 1995 and 1996, and natural reproduction has since steadily increased the numbers of both populations. Wolves have also migrated into NW Montana from Canada and established themselves there.

The gray wolf is similar in appearance to a German shepherd, with a thick, shaggy coat, erect ears, and a bushy tail. Its fur is usually gray mixed with black and brown but may be nearly black or, in the Arctic, nearly white. An average-sized adult male is about 3 ft (90 cm) high at the shoulder and 4 ft (120 cm) long, excluding the tail, and weighs about 100 lb (45 kg); some individuals weigh twice as much.

Active mostly at night, gray wolves prey on birds and small mammals and on weak members of larger species, such as deer; they also eat vegetable matter and some carrion. They can run at speeds of up to 35 mi (56 km) per hour and can clear 16 ft (4.9 m) in a single bound. While hunting they can maintain a speed of about 20 mi (32 km) per hr for many hours, eventually wearing down even the swiftest prey. They roam over large areas and may migrate in response to migrations by or numerical fluctuations in their prey species.

Gray wolves hunt singly and in family groups, called packs, which typically include about five individuals. Under severe conditions, especially in winter, several families may join together, forming a pack of up to 30 individuals, rarely more. During the mating season a wolf pair establish a den, usually in a cave or underground burrow, in which they raise the young; both parents bring home food. A pair is believed to remain mated for life.

Because of farmers' fears of raids on livestock, which wolves usually take only when wild prey is unavailable, gray wolves have been hunted ruthlessly, resulting in their extermination in all but the most sparsely populated areas. North American gray wolves have not been known to attack humans without provocation, although Siberian gray wolves have on occasion attacked riders of horses or horse-drawn vehicles. There are many stories of human children being raised by gray wolves, particularly in India, but none has been authenticated.

Red Wolves and Coyotes

The red wolf, C. rufus, is a smaller species that varies in color from reddish gray to nearly black. It has been nearly eradicated from most of its range in the forest and brush country of the S central United States and is listed as endangered. However, captive breeding programs are slowly increasing its numbers, and some have been reintroduced to the wild. The red wolf is similar in behavior to, and may be a hybrid of, the prairie wolf, C. latrans, better known as the coyote. Smallest of the wolves, coyotes are still widespread in W North America. Real estate development in their traditional habitat, combined with the opening up of the ecological niche formerly filled by gray wolves and mountain lions, has prompted coyotes to greatly increase their range; they are now common in the Northeast and have developed small populations in large urban centers such as Chicago and New York City.

Classification

Wolves are classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Carnivora, family Canidae.

Bibliography

See E. Zimen, Wolf: A Species in Danger (1981); F. H. Harrington and P. C. Paquet, Wolves of the World (1982); J. L. Gittleman Carnivore Behavior, Ecology and Evolution (1989).

Veterinary Dictionary:

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A wild member of the family Canidae. A brownish-gray dog which resembles a German Shepherd dog with a long nose and a bushy tail, noted for its ferocity as a hunter of game. Called also Canis lupus, other species Canis rufus (red wolf).

w. teeth — see wolf tooth.

Word Tutor:

wolves

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IN BRIEF: n. - Large predatory animals that live and hunt in packs and resemble dogs.

Wolves often travel in packs for hunting.

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Sign Language Videos:

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sign description: The CLAWED hand begins over the nose and is pulled outward as it closes.

The Dreams Encyclopedia:

Wolf

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The wolf is another symbol that may be regarded as either good or evil. The fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood represents the onset of sexual maturity in young women, and the wolf represents the seductive "evil" male who tries to eliminate the protection of the wise old woman, Grandma. The honorable "good" male figure of the woodcutter values the feminine principle by protecting Red with his strength. The Native American values the wolf as a serene, majestic teacher, guide, and source of sacred wisdom. Some tribes relate the feminine lunar aspect of life to the wolf, while other tribal groups consider the wolf a strong warrior symbol for the male. Unless other dream elements point to a "big bad wolf" interpretation, this dream symbol may well represent "good medicine."

Translations:

Wolf

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - ulv, buk; skørtejæger
v. tr. - hugge i sig, sluge

idioms:

big bad wolf store, stygge ulv
keep the wolf from the door holde sulten fra døren
wolf down hugge mad i sig
wolf in sheep's clothing ulv i fåreklæder
wolf whistle fløjte efter piger

Nederlands (Dutch)
wolf, wreed persoon, verslinden

Français (French)
n. - loup, (fig) cavaleur (fam)
v. tr. - engloutir, dévorer

idioms:

big bad wolf grand méchant loup
keep the wolf from the door mettre à l'abri du besoin
wolf down engloutir, dévorer
wolf in sheep's clothing (fig) un loup déguisé en brebis
wolf whistle sifflement (au passage d'une femme)

Deutsch (German)
n. - Wolf, (ugs.) Weiberheld, Mißklang
v. - verschlingen

idioms:

big bad wolf der böse Wolf
keep the wolf from the door sich über Wasser halten, den größten Hunger stillen
wolf down verschlingen
wolf in sheep's clothing Wolf im Schafspelz
wolf whistle anerkennender Pfiff

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (ζωολ.) λύκος, (μτφ.) γυναικάς, κορτάκιας, φαγάς
v. - καταβροχθίζω

idioms:

big bad wolf ο κακός λύκος
keep the wolf from the door (ίσα που) τα φέρνω βόλτα
wolf down καταβροχθίζω
wolf in sheep's clothing λύκος με δορά προβάτου
wolf whistle σφύριγμα θαυμασμού (για γυναίκα)

Italiano (Italian)
divorare, lupo

idioms:

big bad wolf il lupo cattivo
cry wolf gridare al lupo
keep the wolf from the door tener lontana la miseria
wolf down divorare
wolf in sheep's clothing lupo in veste d'agnello
wolf whistle fischio di ammirazione

Português (Portuguese)
n. - lobo (m), (fig.) pessoa que come muito (f)
v. - caçar lobos, comer muito

idioms:

big bad wolf grande lobo mau
cry wolf dar alarme falso
keep the wolf from the door evitar passar por necessidades
wolf down devorar
wolf in sheep's clothing uma pessoa má passando como boa
wolf whistle assobio de admiração (para mulher)

Русский (Russian)
волк, волчий мех, жестокий, безжалостный или жадный человек, хищник, заглатывать (пищу) с жадностью

idioms:

big bad wolf "страшный серый волк", опасная, страшная личность
cry wolf поднять ложную тревогу
keep the wolf from the door бороться с угрожающей нищетой, перебиваться с хлеба на квас
wolf down заглатывать (пищу) с жадностью
wolf in sheep's clothing волк в овечьей шкуре
wolf whistle свист при встрече с красивой девушкой

Español (Spanish)
n. - lobo, piel de lobo, persona rapaz, zorro, seductor, libertino
v. tr. - devorar, engullir, comer grosera o vorazmente

idioms:

big bad wolf el lobo feroz
keep the wolf from the door precaverse contra la miseria
wolf down tragarse, zamparse
wolf in sheep's clothing lobo con piel de oveja, hipócrita
wolf whistle silbido de admiración

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - varg
v. - sluka

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
狼, 极度的穷困, 残忍贪婪之人, 狼吞虎咽, 大吃

idioms:

big bad wolf 使人害怕的人或物
keep the wolf from the door 勉强度日
wolf down 狼吞虎咽地吃
wolf in sheep's clothing 披着羊皮的豺狼
wolf whistle 男性吹口哨向女性献媚

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 狼, 極度的窮困, 殘忍貪婪之人
v. tr. - 狼吞虎咽, 大吃

idioms:

big bad wolf 使人害怕的人或物
keep the wolf from the door 勉強度日
wolf down 狼吞虎咽地吃
wolf in sheep's clothing 披著羊皮的豺狼
wolf whistle 男性吹口哨向女性獻媚

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 이리, 탐욕스런 사람, 심한 굶주림
v. tr. - 게걸스럽게 먹다, 탐내다, (남의 애인을) 가로채다

idioms:

big bad wolf 위협
keep the wolf from the door 겨우 굶주림을 면하다
wolf down 게걸스럽게 먹다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - オオカミ, 残忍な人, 女たらし, 狼
v. - がつがつ食う

idioms:

wolf down がつがつ食う
wolf in sheep's clothing 羊の皮を着た狼
wolf whistle 口笛

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) الذئب, جلد الذئب, شخص ضار, نغمه شاذة, زير نساء, سوس, الحنطه (فعل) يلتهم‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮זאב, רודף נשים, חמדן‬
v. tr. - ‮זלל, אכל בלהיטות‬

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Wolf Range	wolf ovens

Did you mean: wolf (carnivore), wolf, Animals, Randy Wolf (baseball), Great Wolf Resorts Inc, gray wolf, Wolf (WY), Lupus (constellation of stars), Hugo Wolf (Austrian composer) More...

		Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more
		Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 1994-2010 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more
		Thesaurus. Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary Copyright © 1995 byHoughton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more
		Idioms. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more
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		Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2010, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/. Read more
		Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved. Read more
		Word Tutor. Copyright © 2004-present by eSpindle Learning, a 501(c) nonprofit organization. All rights reserved. eSpindle provides personalized spelling and vocabulary tutoring online; sign up free. Read more
		Sign Language Videos. Copyright © 2009 Signing Savvy, LLC. All rights reserved. Read more
		The Dreams Encyclopedia. The Dreams Encyclopedia. 1995 ©Visible Ink Press (VisibleInkPress.com). All rights reserved. Read more
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