[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/withering.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / withering

[← W](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/W/)

# withering

«withering» in Mova's school dictionary: **Of a plant: drying up, shrinking and dying, for example…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

adjective (withering); verb, -ing form of wither (wither, withers, withered, withering)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Of a plant: drying up, shrinking and dying, for example because it has no water. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/withering/#m1)

2) (adjective) A withering look or remark is very scornful and makes someone feel small and foolish. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/withering/#m2)

3) (adjective) Extremely strong and damaging, like "withering heat" or "withering fire". [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/withering/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In science lessons on plants, leaves start withering when a plant lacks water or light. In stories, "she gave him a withering look" tells the reader she was very unimpressed and made him feel silly. Phrases: "a withering look", "withering criticism", "withering heat".

### examples

- The flowers were withering because nobody had watered them. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/withering/#x1)
- Our bean plant in the dark cupboard was withering. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/withering/#x2)
- The teacher gave him a withering look when he walked in late. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/withering/#x3)
- The grass was withering in the summer heat. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/withering/#x4)
- Her withering comment made him go red. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/withering/#x5)
- The leaves are withering and turning brown in autumn. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/withering/#x6)

### note

"Wither" is a regular verb (withered, withering). Do not confuse with "whether" (if) or "weather" (rain and sun). A withering look does not hurt the body; it hurts feelings.

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «withering» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/withering/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.