millipede

noun

mil·​li·​pede ˈmi-lə-ˌpēd 

: any of a class (Diplopoda) of myriapod arthropods having usually a cylindrical segmented body covered with hard integument, two pairs of legs on most apparent segments, and unlike centipedes no poison fangs

Did you know?

The earth is home to about 10,000 species of millipedes. Though they have no poison fangs, many of them can, when threatened, emit a liquid or gas poisonous to their enemies. If their structure were true to their name, millipedes would have a thousand legs, but in fact they have far fewer. Even so, a millipede in motion is a sight to ponder: How can it possibly coordinate all those legs so that it doesn't trip over itself? Like some tiny conga line or bunny hop, it scuttles away to a rhythm only it can hear.

Examples of millipede in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Share [Findings] A fungal parasite that afflicts the reproductive organs of millipedes was named in honor of Twitter. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 19 June 2024

This species, however, was bright and the only orange millipede in its genus, according to the study. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 10 May 2024

Heavy snowfall, unseasonably warm temperatures, heavy flooding, and more are examples of severe weather in the U.S. In the Midwest, experts predict a delay in the peak season for earwigs, millipedes, centipedes, and similar insects that tend to thrive during wet summer months. —Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 20 Mar. 2024

And thriving in these flammable forests were eight-foot-long millipedes and hawk-sized dragonfly relatives. —Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 11 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin millepeda, a small crawling animal, from mille thousand + ped-, pes foot — more at foot

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

millipede

noun

mil·​li·​pede ˈmil-ə-ˌpēd 

: any of a class of arthropods having a long segmented body with a hard covering, two pairs of legs on most segments, and unlike the related centipedes no poison fangs

Etymology

from Latin millepeda "a small crawling animal," literally "a thousand-footed animal," from mille "thousand" and ped-, pes "foot"

Medical Definition

millipede

noun

mil·​li·​pede ˈmil-ə-ˌpēd 

: any of a class (Diplopoda) of arthropods having usually a cylindrical segmented body, two pairs of legs on most segments, and including some forms that secrete toxic substances causing skin irritation but that unlike centipedes possess no poison fangs