wood borer

noun

1
: a grub that is the wood-boring larva of any of numerous beetles (as a click beetle, longicorn beetle, buprestid, or weevil) compare apple tree borer
2
: a borer (as the peach tree borer) that is the larva of any of various lepidopterous insects and especially of a clearwing moth or a goat moth
3
: a borer that is the larva of a horntail (family Siricidae)
4
: any of several bivalve mollusks (as the teredos and members of the genus Xylophaga) that bore in wood
5
: any of several small crustaceans (as the gribble) that bore in wood

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near wood borer

Cite this Entry

“Wood borer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wood%20borer. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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