Lupine describes anything related to or resembling a wolf. A scientist studying lupine behavior is researching how wolves hunt, communicate, and live in packs. Someone with lupine features might have sharp, alert eyes and an intense gaze that reminds you of a wolf's focused stare.

You might encounter it in nature writing or fantasy stories when authors want to describe something wolf-like without simply saying “like a wolf.” A character moving with lupine grace would slip through the forest with the fluid, careful movements of a predator on the prowl.

There's also a flower called a lupine, a tall plant with spikes of colorful blossoms (often purple, pink, or white) that grows wild in fields and along roadsides. These flowers have nothing to do with actual wolves beyond the name, so you need context to know which meaning someone intends. If someone mentions “a field of lupines,” they're talking about flowers. If they describe “lupine cunning,” they mean wolf-like cleverness.