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clothes moth
noun
: any of several small yellowish or buff-colored moths (especially Tinea pellionella and Tineola bisselliella of the family Tineidae) whose larvae eat wool, fur, or feathers
Examples of clothes moth in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Saucers of silk line the sills like a grand banquet for clothes moths.
—Meredi Ortega, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2023
Play it safe and deter clothes moths in other ways, Forté advises.
—Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 30 June 2023
The interloper: the webbing clothes moth, which feeds on silk, wool and other organic material.
—Melody Petersen Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2021
The interloper was the webbing clothes moth, which feeds on silk, wool and other organic material.
—Deborah Vankin Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2021
Some of them include female clothes moth pheromones to lure the insects.
—Deborah Vankin Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2021
Play it safe and deter clothes moths other ways, Forte advises.
—Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 13 Mar. 2019
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Word History
First Known Use
1753, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near clothes moth
Cite this Entry
“Clothes moth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clothes%20moth. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
clothes moth
noun
: any of several small moths whose caterpillars eat wool, fur, or feathers
More from Merriam-Webster on clothes moth
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about clothes moth
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