Main Entry:

¹wolf

Pronunciation:

\ˈwu̇lf\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural wolves \ˈwu̇lvz\

Usage:

often attributive

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English wulf; akin to Old High German wolf wolf, Latin lupus, Greek lykos

Date:

before 12th century

1plural also wolf a: any of several large predatory canids (genus Canis) that live and hunt in packs and resemble the related dogs ; especially : gray wolf — compare coyote, jackal b: the fur of a wolf2 a (1): a fierce, rapacious, or destructive person (2): a man forward, direct, and zealous in amatory attentions to women b: dire poverty : starvation <keep the wolf from the door> c: the maggot of a warble fly3 [German; from the howling sound] a (1): dissonance in some chords on organs, pianos, or other instruments with fixed tones tuned by unequal temperament (2): an instance of such dissonance b: a harshness due to faulty vibration in various tones in a bowed instrument

— wolf·like \ˈwu̇lf-ˌlīk\ adjective

— wolf in sheep's clothing

: one who cloaks a hostile intention with a friendly manner