feral

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fe·ral

(fîr′əl, fĕr′-)

adj.

a. Having returned to an untamed state from domestication: a pack of feral dogs.

b. Existing in a wild or untamed state.

2. Of or suggestive of a wild animal; savage: a feral grin.

[From Latin fera, wild animal, from ferus, wild; see ghwer- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

feral

(ˈfɪərəl; ˈfɛr-)

adj

1. (Biology) Also: ferine (of animals and plants) existing in a wild or uncultivated state, esp after being domestic or cultivated

2. Also: ferine savage; brutal

3. derogatory slang Austral (of a person) tending to be interested in environmental issues and having a rugged, unkempt appearance

4. derogatory slang Austral a person who displays such tendencies and appearance

5. slang Austral disgusting

6. slang Austral excellent

[C17: from Medieval Latin ferālis, from Latin fera a wild beast, from ferus savage]

feral

(ˈfɪərəl; ˈfɛr-)

adj

1. (Astrology) astrology associated with death

2. gloomy; funereal

[C17: from Latin fērālis relating to corpses; perhaps related to ferre to carry]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

fe•ral

(ˈfɪər əl, ˈfɛr-)

adj.

1. existing in a wild state; not domesticated or cultivated.

2. having reverted to the wild state.

3. ferocious; savage; brutal.

[1595–1605; < Medieval Latin, Late Latin ferālis= Latin fer(a) wild beast + -ālis -al¹]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Adj.

feral - wild and menacing; "a pack of feral dogs"

ferine, savage

untamed, wild - in a natural state; not tamed or domesticated or cultivated; "wild geese"; "edible wild plants"

feral

adjective

1. wild, untamed, uncultivated, undomesticated, unbroken There are many feral cats roaming the area.

2. savage, fierce, brutal, ferocious, fell, wild, vicious, bestial the feral scowl of the young street mugger

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

feral

adjective

1. Of or relating to wild animals:

savage, wild.

2. Showing or suggesting a disposition to be violently destructive without scruple or restraint:

barbarous, bestial, cruel, fell, ferocious, fierce, inhuman, savage, truculent, vicious, wolfish.

Translations

wild

cimarrón

ferino

feral

[ˈfɪərəl] ADJ (frm) → silvestre, salvaje

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

feral

[ˈfɛrəl] adj

[animal] → sauvage

[person, thing] (= savage) → sauvage

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

feral

adj attr animal, child → verwildert; (fig) features, quickness → wild; feral cat → Wildkatze f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

References in classic literature ?

Moreover, the several above-named domesticated breeds have been transported to all parts of the world, and, therefore, some of them must have been carried back again into their native country; but not one has ever become wild or feral, though the dovecot-pigeon, which is the rock-pigeon in a very slightly altered state, has become feral in several places.

View in context

The research was done on animal species present on Kangaroo Island, which according to studies, have (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/18/parasitic-disease-spread-by-feral-cats-likely-to-be-killing-native-wildlife) a high population of feral cats.

Feral Cats Likely To Be Spreading Parasitic Diseases, Study Says

for damages caused by feral cats that was denied because the policy excluded any damages caused by "domestic animals."

Damage Claim Hinges on Whether 'Feral Cats' are Domestic

In spite of the cold, wet, long winter, the small feral colony that we installed in a single shallow Langstroth hive body (no super) in the midst of cool-season haying about four years ago thrived, and so did the bees occupying the traps still in the trees.

Feral Bees, Take 2

mFood Vendor is a new app on the Apple App Store and is the second step in Feral Innovations, Inc.'s commitment to deliver best in class applications and services for the mobile food industry.

mFood Vendor App Available on iOS

It says: "Some feral pigeons are capable of breeding throughout the year; however, the optimum period occurs between March and July.

PLEASE do not feed the pigeons! CALL FOR TO FINE PEOPLE DUMPING FOOD AS BIRDS RUIN LOCAL PARK

Kendall Carpenter, Choctaw Nation, will discuss "How We Developed Feral Hog Management and Control" and "Techniques to Control Feral Hogs." Carpenter and Raymond Ludlow, Choctaw Nation, will speak on "Feral Hog Technical Assistance." Emmlie Bragg, Choctaw Nation, will discuss "Soil Health Success."

Feral hog, soil workshops set

"The importance of the project is twofold," West said, "on the one hand, it's good for the planet because we use the aluminium people have thrown away and would otherwise end up in landfills is reused, and on the other hand, we spay feral cats."

Using drink cans to control our feral cat population

Friends Stella, 13, and Tulia, 14, Pennsylvania, started a kitty adoption program for abandoned feral kitties.

Kitty Rescuers

And it wasn't until after I was married that I had my first run-in with feral hogs.

CANINES & SWINE: IF THE LAND YOU MANAGE IS THREATENED BY WILD PIGS AND/OR COYOTES, HERE'S HOW TO HELP RESTORE THE BALANCE

Considerable debate surrounds the long-term implications of feeding feral cat colonies and other wild animals.

Helping Stray Cats With Kittens: As cat lovers, we are driven to help cats in need, especially queens with kittens, but it's wise to initially evaluate the situation from afar

In the United States, damage by feral hogs is estimated at more than $1.5 billion in agricultural losses every year.

high on the hog: Feral pigs offer numerous hunting chances

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