wolf

noun (plural wolves)

1》 a carnivorous mammal which is the largest member of the dog family, living and hunting in packs. [Canis lupus.]

    ↘used in names of similar or related mammals, e.g. Tasmanian wolf.

2》 a rapacious or ferocious person.

    ↘informal a man who habitually seduces women.

3》 an out-of-tune effect produced when playing particular notes or intervals on a musical instrument, caused either by the instrument's construction or by divergence from equal temperament.

verb (usu. wolf something down) devour (food) greedily.

Phrases

cry wolf raise repeated false alarms, so that a real cry for help is ignored. [with allusion to the fable of the shepherd boy who deluded people with false cries of ‘Wolf!’]

hold (or have) a wolf by the ears be in a precarious position.

keep the wolf from the door have enough money to avert hunger or destitution.

throw someone to the wolves sacrifice someone so as to avert trouble for oneself.

a wolf in sheep's clothing a person who appears friendly but is really hostile. [with biblical allusion to Matt. 7:15.]

Derivatives

wolfish adjective

wolfishly adverb

wolf-like adjective

Origin

OE wulf, of Gmc origin.