wild

Wild is an adjective describing things in a natural, untamed, or undomesticated state. It can refer to plants, animals, landscapes, or behavior, and it is often used in contrast with cultivated, tame, or urban. The word comes from Old English wilde, related to other Germanic terms for uninhibited or natural states.

In nature, wild describes ecosystems and organisms that grow or live with minimal human intervention. Wildlands or wilderness areas are defined by ecological processes that remain driven by natural forces. The concept also appears in everyday language, such as “wild animals” or “wildflowers,” indicating species or features that occur without deliberate cultivation.

In biology, the term wild type denotes the standard or naturally occurring form of an organism or gene in a population, as opposed to variants or mutations introduced by domestication or experimental manipulation. The wild-type form is used as a reference point in genetics and evolutionary studies.

Culturally, wild is used to evoke untamed nature or unrestrained behavior. It appears in literature and film, such as The Call of the Wild, Jack London’s 1903 novella about a dog’s journey in the Yukon, and the 2014 film Wild, based on Cheryl Strayed’s memoir of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. The phrase “go wild” signifies acting with freedom or abandon, while “wildfire” and “wildlife” are common terms linking the concept to natural phenomena and living organisms.

Conservation efforts aim to protect wild ecosystems from threats like habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species, preserving biodiversity and ecological integrity.