I. wəlt, ˈwilt
archaic present second singular of will
II. ˈwilt verb
Etymology: alteration of earlier welk, from Middle English welken, probably from Middle Dutch; akin to Old High German er welkēn to wilt
Date: circa 1691
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to lose turgor from lack of water
the plants wilt ed in the heat
b. : to become limp
2. : to grow weak or faint : languish
transitive verb
: to cause to wilt
III. ˈwilt noun
Date: 1855
1. : an act or instance of wilting : the state of being wilted
2.
a. : a disorder (as a fungus disease) of plants marked by loss of turgidity in soft tissues with subsequent drooping and often shriveling — called also wilt disease
b. : polyhedrosis of caterpillars