To wallow means to roll around in mud, water, or something similar, usually with pleasure. Pigs wallow in mud to cool off on hot days, and buffalo wallow in watering holes to protect their skin from biting insects. The mud coating acts like nature's sunscreen and bug repellent.

The word also describes getting stuck in an unhappy emotional state. When someone wallows in self-pity, they sit around feeling very sorry for themselves instead of trying to solve their problems or move forward. If you fail a test and spend the whole weekend wallowing instead of studying for the next one, you're letting disappointment consume you.

There's a difference between taking time to feel sad (which is natural and healthy) and wallowing (which means staying stuck there). After losing an important game, you might feel disappointed for a day. But if you're still complaining about that loss weeks later and refusing to practice, you've crossed into wallowing territory.

A wallow can also be a muddy spot where animals regularly roll around. Farmers recognize these shallow depressions in fields where pigs or other animals return again and again to their favorite cooling spot.