eastern tent caterpillar

noun

: the gregarious web-building larva of a reddish brown American moth (Malacosoma americanum) hatching in spring, feeding on the young foliage of apple, wild cherry, and related trees, and building community nests of silk in crotches of the trees invaded

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!