wild / wīld/ • adj. 1. (of an animal or plant) living or growing in the natural environment; not domesticated or cultivated. ∎  (of people) not civilized; barbarous: the wild tribes from the north. ∎  (of scenery or a region) desolate-looking: the wild coastline of Cape Wrath.2. uncontrolled or unrestrained, esp. in pursuit of pleasure: she went through a wild phase of drunken parties and desperate affairs. ∎  haphazard, esp. rashly so: a wild guess. ∎  extravagant or unreasonable; fanciful: who, even in their wildest dreams, could have anticipated such a victory? ∎  stormy: the wild sea. ∎ inf. very enthusiastic or excited: I'm not wild about the music. ∎ inf. very angry. ∎  (of looks, appearance, etc.) indicating distraction: her wild eyes were darting back and forth. ∎  (of a playing card) deemed to have any value, suit, color, or other property in a game at the discretion of the player holding it.See also wild card.• adv. in an uncontrolled manner: the bad guys shoot wild. ∎  in a very excited or angry state: the crowd went wild with enthusiasm.• n. (the wild) a natural state or uncultivated or uninhabited region: kiwis are virtually extinct in the wild. ∎  (the wilds) a remote uninhabited or sparsely inhabited area: he spent a year in the wilds of Canada.PHRASES: run wild (of an animal, plant, or person) grow or develop without restraint or discipline: these horses have been running wild since they were born | fig. her imagination had run wild. wild and woolly uncouth in appearance or behavior.DERIVATIVES: wild·ish adj.wild·ly adv.wild·ness n.