caterpillar

1 of 2

noun

cat·​er·​pil·​lar ˈka-tər-ˌpi-lər How to pronounce caterpillar (audio)
-tə-
often attributive
: the elongated wormlike larva of a butterfly or moth
also : any of various similar larvae

Caterpillar

2 of 2

trademark

used for a tractor made for use on rough or soft ground and moved on two endless metal belts

Examples of caterpillar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The death of the caterpillar is actually the birth of the beautiful winged butterfly that takes flight and even defies gravity. Derek Scancarelli, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024 When England’s team exposed caterpillars to electric fields similar to those generated by a flying wasp, caterpillars displayed defensive behaviors (opens a new tab) such as coiling, flailing or biting. quantamagazine.org, 30 Sep. 2024 In essence, trees developing this adaptation are not all that different from Darwin’s finches evolving special beaks to crack particular seed shells, or a monarch caterpillar’s ability to accumulate milkweed toxin to limit predation by birds. Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 13 Sep. 2024 At the outset the small number of caterpillars will cover a few leaves in a cluster the size of a football. Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for caterpillar 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English catyrpel, from Anglo-French *catepelose, literally, hairy cat

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of caterpillar was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near caterpillar

cateress

caterpillar

Caterpillar

Cite this Entry

“Caterpillar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caterpillar. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

caterpillar

noun
cat·​er·​pil·​lar ˈkat-ə(r)-ˌpil-ər How to pronounce caterpillar (audio)
: the long wormlike larva of a butterfly or moth
also : any of various similar insect larvae (as of a sawfly)
Etymology

Noun

Middle English catyrpel "caterpillar," from an early French dialect word catepelose "caterpillar," literally, "hairy cat," from cate "female cat" and pelose "hairy," derived from Latin pilus "hair" — related to pile entry 5

Word Origin
On looking at a fuzzy caterpillar you might see a resemblance to another animal. One kind of caterpillar must have reminded some people of a bear and was at one time called a bear worm and later a woolly bear. In France long ago, the fuzzy caterpillars probably made some people think of little dogs. The French word for caterpillar is chenille, which comes from a Latin word for "little dog." But our word caterpillar comes from an early French dialect word, catepelose, which is made up of two words meaning "hairy cat." Pelose, meaning "hairy," was taken from Latin pilus, "hair." This Latin word is the same root that gives us our modern English word pile, meaning "a coat or surface of short furry hairs." Since many caterpillars are covered with such a coat, the name is very fitting.

More from Merriam-Webster on caterpillar

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