<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>Any of several North American felines of the genus Lynx.</li><li>A yellowish-gray, black-striped feline, <em>Felis sylvestris</em>, of Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa, resembling and closely related to the domestic cat, with which it interbreeds freely.</li><li>A closely related feline, <em>Felis sylvestris libyca</em>, of northern Africa, believed to be the ancestor of the domestic cat.</li><li>Any of several other of the smaller felines, as the serval or ocelot.</li><li>A domestic cat that has become feral.</li><li>A quick-tempered or savage person.</li><li>A single locomotive operating without a train, as one switching cars.</li><li>An exploratory well drilled in an effort to discover deposits of oil or gas; a prospect well.</li><li>A reckless or unsound enterprise, business, etc.</li><li>A shaped drum on a windlass, engaging with the links of an anchor chain.</li><li>A wildcat strike.</li></ul><p><strong>Adjective</strong></p><ul><li>Characterized by or proceeding from reckless or unsafe business methods; wildcat companies; wildcat stocks.</li><li>Of or relating to an illicit enterprise or product.</li><li>Running without control or regulation, as a locomotive, or apart from the regular schedule, as a train.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>To search an area of unknown or doubtful productivity for oil, ore, or the like, especially as an independent prospector.</li><li>To engage in a wildcat strike.</li><li>To search (an area of unknown or doubtful productivity) for oil, ore, or the like.</li></ul>