# wolf

/ˈwʊɫf/ (US) · /wˈʊlf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wolf
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the animal

noun · CEFR A1

a large wild animal that looks like a dog and lives in a group called a pack.

For teachers: a large carnivorous mammal of the family Canidae, typically hunting in packs.

- The hikers heard a wolf howling in the distance during the night.
- Conservationists are monitoring the reintroduction of the grey wolf to the national park to see how it affects the local deer population.

### 2. a predatory man

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a man who frequently tries to start romantic or sexual relationships with many different women.

For teachers: a man who habitually makes amorous advances to many women, often with predatory or superficial intent.

- He has a reputation for being a bit of a wolf at office parties.
- The protagonist is portrayed as a charming wolf who uses his social status to manipulate those around him.

### 3. music

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a harsh or unpleasant sound made by a musical instrument.

For teachers: a harsh, jarring vibration or 'wolf tone' produced by a stringed instrument when a played note matches the natural frequency of the instrument's body.

- The cellist used a small brass device to stop the wolf on the F-sharp string.
- Luthiers often struggle to eliminate the wolf in high-quality cellos without dampening the instrument's overall resonance.

### 4. to eat quickly

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to eat something very quickly because you are very hungry.

For teachers: to consume food greedily or voraciously; often used with the particle 'down'.

- The hungry teenagers wolfed down the entire pizza in five minutes.
- After a long day of hiking without rations, the group wolfed down their dinner with little regard for table manners.

Usage: Often used in the phrasal verb form 'wolf down'.

## Examples

- The wolf howls loudly in the forest.
- Hikers were warned to stay on the trail after a local farmer spotted a wolf near the edge of the woods.
- The reintroduction of the gray wolf to the national park triggered a trophic cascade, significantly altering the local ecosystem by controlling the elk population and allowing vegetation to recover.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.