wi ld flow|er (wild flowers ) also wildflower N‑COUNT Wild flowers are flowers which grow naturally in the countryside, rather than being grown by people in gardens.
wild|fowl /wa I ldfaʊl/ also wild fowl N‑PLURAL Wildfowl are birds such as ducks, swans, and geese that live close to lakes or rivers.
wi ld goo se chase (wild goose chases ) also wild-goose chase N‑COUNT [usu on N ] If you are on a wild goose chase , you waste a lot of time searching for something that you have little chance of finding, because you have been given incorrect information. □ Harry wondered if Potts had deliberately sent him on a wild goose chase.
wild|life /wa I ldla I f/ N‑UNCOUNT You can use wildlife to refer to the animals and other living things that live in the wild. □ People were concerned that pets or wildlife could be affected by the pesticides.
wild|ly /wa I ldli/
1 ADV [usu ADV adj, oft ADV after v] You use wildly to emphasize the degree, amount, or intensity of something. [EMPHASIS ] □ Reports of his drinking have been wildly exaggerated. □ The island's hotels vary wildly.
2 → see also wild
Wi ld We st N‑SING The Wild West is used to refer to the western part of the United States during the time when Europeans were first settling there.
wiles /wa I lz/ N‑PLURAL Wiles are clever tricks that people, especially women, use to persuade other people to do something. □ She claimed that women 'use their feminine wiles to get on.'
wil|ful /w I lfʊl/ in AM, use willful 1 ADJ [ADJ n] If you describe actions or attitudes as wilful , you are critical of them because they are done or expressed deliberately, especially with the intention of causing someone harm. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Wilful neglect of our manufacturing industry has caused this problem.
2 ADJ If you describe someone as wilful , you mean that they are determined to do what they want to do, even if it is not sensible. □ Francesca was a lively child, quite wilful and demanding.
will
➊ MODAL VERB USES
➋ WANTING SOMETHING TO HAPPEN
➊ will ◆◆◆ /w I l/ Will is a modal verb. It is used with the base form of a verb. In spoken English and informal written English, the form won't is often used in negative statements. 1 MODAL You use will to indicate that you hope, think, or have evidence that something is going to happen or be the case in the future. □ You will find a wide variety of choices available in school cafeterias. □ Representatives from across the horse industry will attend the meeting. □ 70 per cent of airports will have to be upgraded. □ Will you ever feel at home here? □ The ship will not be ready for a month.
2 MODAL You use will in order to make statements about official arrangements in the future. □ The show will be open to the public at 2pm; admission will be 50p. □ When will I be released, sir?
3 MODAL You use will in order to make promises and threats about what is going to happen or be the case in the future. □ I'll call you tonight. □ Price quotes on selected product categories will be sent on request. □ If she refuses to follow rules about car safety, she won't be allowed to use the car.
4 MODAL You use will to indicate someone's intention to do something. □ I will say no more on these matters, important though they are. □ We will describe these techniques in Chapters 20 and 21. □ 'Dinner's ready.'—'Thanks, Carrie, but we'll have a drink first.' □ What will you do next? □ Will you be remaining in the city?
5 MODAL You use will in questions in order to make polite invitations or offers. [POLITENESS ] □ Will you stay for supper? □ Will you join me for a drink? □ Won't you sit down?
6 MODAL You use will in questions in order to ask or tell someone to do something. □ Will you drive me home? □ Wipe the jam off my mouth, will you?
7 MODAL You can use will in statements to give an order to someone. [FORMAL ] □ You will now maintain radio silence. □ You will not discuss this matter with anyone.
8 MODAL You use will to say that someone is willing to do something. You use will not or won't to indicate that someone refuses to do something. □ All right, I'll forgive you. □ He has insisted that his organisation will not negotiate with the government.
9 → see also willing
10 MODAL You use will to say that a person or thing is able to do something in the future. □ How the country will defend itself in the future has become increasingly important. □ How will I recognize you?
11 MODAL You use will to indicate that an action usually happens in the particular way mentioned. □ The thicker the material, the less susceptible the garment will be to wet conditions. □ There's no snake that will habitually attack human beings unless threatened.
12 MODAL You use will in the main clause of some 'if' and 'unless' sentences to indicate something that you consider to be fairly likely to happen. □ If you overcook the pancakes they will be difficult to roll.
13 MODAL You use will to say that someone insists on behaving or doing something in a particular way and you cannot change them. You emphasize will when you use it in this way. □ He will leave his socks lying all over the place and it drives me mad.
14 MODAL You use will have with a past participle when you are saying that you are fairly certain that something will be true by a particular time in the future. □ As many as ten million children will have been infected by the end of the decade.