Word: Wilt
Part of Speech: Verb (also used as a noun)
Usage Instructions:
As a verb: You can use "wilt" when talking about plants, flowers, or even people who lose energy or strength.
As a noun: Use "wilt" to describe the condition of a plant that is drooping or shriveling.
Examples:
Verb: "The flowers wilted in the hot sun because they didn't get enough water."
Noun: "The garden has a problem with wilt, causing many plants to droop and die."
Advanced Usage:
Word Variants:
Wilting (present participle): "The wilting leaves indicate that the plant needs water."
Wilted (past tense): "After a week without water, the plants were wilted and lifeless."
Different Meanings:
Synonyms:
For the verb: droop, sag, weaken, wither, fade
For the noun: drooping, limpness, weakness
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
"To wilt under pressure": This idiom means to become weak or unable to handle stress or challenges.
There are no common phrasal verbs that directly include "wilt," but you might hear phrases like "wilt away," which suggests gradually losing strength or vitality.
Summary:
"Wilt" is a useful word that describes both the physical state of plants and the emotional or physical weakening of a person.