feral

Word family

Related topics: Animals

fer·al /ˈferəl, ˈfɪərəl $ ˈferəl, ˈfɪrəl/ adjectiveadj → ferrule

1 HBAferal animals used to live with humans but have become wild 〔动物驯养后脱逃〕恢复野性的

feral cats

野猫

n2 feral children or young people behave badly in public and commit crimes, because they are not controlled by anyone and have no respect for authority

The riots were blamed on feral teenagers.

Examples from the Corpus

feral• An Inside Job A local authority was called out to a feral cat problem at the local prison.• Interbreeding with feral cats is probably the biggest threat to the wildcat.• a pack of feral dogs• His voice had moved down the register until it came forth as a kind of feral growl.• The feral kid, by the way, is now said to be working as a jeweler in downtown Sydney.• He had light brown hair and a feral quality about him that made people do what he wanted.• Martin, eyes glaring and lips drawn back in a feral snarl.• Yes, I know a large chunk of the child population today is virtually feral, untended and untutored by responsible parents.• A feral world of backbiting malice, veiled threats, liars and blackmailers.

Origin feral

(1600-1700) Medieval Latin feralis, from Latin fera “wild animal”

fer·al adjectiveadj

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