clearwing

noun

clear·​wing ˈklir-ˌwiŋ How to pronounce clearwing (audio)
variants or clearwing moth
: a moth (as of the families Sesiidae or Sphingidae) having the wings largely transparent and devoid of scales

Examples of clearwing 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.
North America has four species of hummingbird moth, with the most common and recognizable being the snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) and the hummingbird clearwing (Hemaris thysbe). Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 12 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clearwing was in 1867

Dictionary Entries Near clearwing

Cite this Entry

“Clearwing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clearwing. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!