< Back
caterpillar
Definition
Caterpillar is a worm-like creature that is in the larval stage of a butterfly or moth.
Caterpillars have a long, soft body with many legs.
They eat leaves and other plant matter.
When a caterpillar is ready to become a butterfly or moth, it will spin a cocoon and undergo a transformation called metamorphosis.
How can the word be used?
The caterpillar crawled across the leaf.
Different forms of the word
Noun.
Singular: caterpillar.
Plural: caterpillars.
Adjective.
Caterpillary: relating to or resembling a caterpillar.
Etymology
The word caterpillar comes from the Middle English word caterpillere, which is derived from the Old French word chatepelose, which means hairy cat. The Old French word chatepelose is a compound word, which means that it is made up of two separate words: chat, which means cat, and pelose, which means hairy.
Question
What change does a caterpillar go through?