HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.

Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.

guide to the dictionary

wild·cat

(wīldkăt′)

1. Any of various wild felines of small to medium size, including the bobcat and the caracal.

2. A small wild feline (Felis silvestris) of Eurasia and Africa, generally regarded as being the ancestor of the domestic cat.

a. A quick-tempered person.

b. A person regarded as fierce.

4. An oil or natural-gas well drilled in an area not known to be productive.

5. A workers' strike unauthorized by their union.

adj.

a. Risky or unsound, especially financially.

b. Issued by a financially irresponsible bank: wildcat currency.

c. Operating or accomplished outside the norms of standard, ethical business procedures: wildcat life insurance schemes.

2. Of, relating to, or being an oil or natural-gas well drilled speculatively in an area not known to be productive.

3. Undertaken by workers without approval of the officials of their union: a wildcat strike.

v. wild·cat·ted, wild·cat·ting, wild·cats

v.tr.

To prospect for (oil, for example) in an area supposed to be unproductive.

v.intr.

1. To prospect for oil or other minerals in an area not known to be productive.

2. To go out on an unauthorized labor strike.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

American Heritage Dictionary Products

HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

THE USAGE PANEL

AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG

INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

American Heritage Dictionary Products