wilting

Everyday

1. Drooping and going soft because of not enough water, too much heat, or being picked: a wilting flower bends and its leaves hang down. tree →
2. (of a person) Getting tired, weak or less lively, especially in heat: «The children were wilting in the sun.» tree →
3. Losing confidence or energy: «Her smile was wilting.» tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons wilting shows that plants need water: water pushes against plant cells and keeps them stiff; without it the plant goes floppy. If watered in time, a wilting plant can perk up again. In stories a wilting flower can stand for sadness or something ending. Phrases: «wilting in the heat», «wilting flowers».

Examples

• The sunflowers were wilting because we forgot to water them. tree →
• After an hour in the heat, the football team was wilting. tree →
• The lettuce in the fridge drawer was wilting. tree →
• We watered the wilting basil and it stood up again by evening. tree →
• The bunch of roses had been wilting for days. tree →
• In our experiment, the plant without water started wilting first. tree →
• By the last lap I was wilting like an old daisy. tree →

Note

Base verb «wilt»; past «wilted». «Wilt» is also an old Bible form of «will» with «thou» («thou wilt»), a different word. Wilting is not dying yet: a wilted plant can often recover. Opposite: perk up, revive.