wilt disease

- 2 dictionary results

wilt

1 [wilt]

–verb (used without object)

1.	to become limp and drooping, as a fading flower; wither.

2.	to lose strength, vigor, assurance, etc.: to wilt after a day's hard work.

–verb (used with object)

3.	to cause to wilt.

–noun

4.	the act of wilting, or the state of being wilted: a sudden wilt of interest in the discussion.

Plant Pathology.

a.	the drying out, drooping, and withering of the leaves of a plant due to inadequate water supply, excessive transpiration, or vascular disease.

b.	a disease so characterized, as fusarium wilt.

6.	a virus disease of various caterpillars, characterized by the liquefaction of body tissues.

Also, wilt disease (for defs. 5b, 6).

Origin:
1685–95; dial. var. of wilk to wither, itself var. of welk, ME welken, prob. < MD welken; cf. G welk withered

Synonyms:
2. wane, droop; ebb, weaken.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

wilt

1691, probably an alteration of welk "to wilt," probably from M.Du. or M.L.G. welken "to wither," cognate with O.H.G. irwelhen "become soft."

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