/ ˈwɪldənəs; NAmE -dərn-/ noun [ usually sing. ]
1.
a large area of land that has never been developed or used for growing crops because it is difficult to live there :
The Antarctic is the world's last great wilderness.
( NAmE )
a wilderness area (= one where it is not permitted to build houses or roads)
( figurative )
the barren wilderness of modern life
2.
a place that people do not take care of or control :
Their garden is a wilderness of grass and weeds.
•
IDIOMS
- in the wilderness
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English wildēornes land inhabited only by wild animals , from wild dēor wild deer + -ness .