English Reference
noun · verb

wig

n. · v.
US /ˈwɪɡ/ UK /wˈɪɡ/ wig UK spelling wig's, wig's

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    n.a covering of real or artificial hair that you wear on your head.

    n.a head covering made of natural or synthetic hair, worn for aesthetic, theatrical, or concealment purposes.

    Simple

    The actor wore a long blonde wig to look like a person from the 1970s.

    In context

    The costume department prepared a variety of period-accurate wigs to ensure the historical drama felt authentic to the eighteenth century.

    hairpiecetoupee
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate InformalSlang

    v.to become very excited, angry, or worried in a way that is hard to control.

    v.to react with extreme emotion, agitation, or irrationality; frequently used with the particle 'out'.

    Simple

    Don't wig out just because you missed the bus; there is another one in ten minutes.

    In context

    He completely wigged out when he realized he had deleted the final version of the report without a backup.

    Usage

    Often functions as a phrasal verb: 'wig out'.

    Teacher's tip

    This is very common in American English slang; it is expressive but should be avoided in professional writing.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated