Savage animal turning the tide (4)

I believe the answer is:

wolf

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'savage' is the definition.
(I know that savage can be written as wolf)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for wolf that I've seen before include "Carnivorous mammal" , "character of Prokofiev's music" , "Lupine mammal" , "Pack animal; composer" , "Devour ravenously" .)

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