caterpillar

1 of 2

noun

cat·​er·​pil·​lar ˈka-tər-ˌpi-lər 

-tə-

often attributive

: the elongated wormlike larva of a butterfly or moth

also : any of various similar larvae

Caterpillar

2 of 2

trademark

—used for a tractor made for use on rough or soft ground and moved on two endless metal belts

Examples of caterpillar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The outlets reported that the caterpillars have been seen falling out of trees, scattered among parked cars and crawling on homes, with their cocoons lining the eaves. —Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024

That biting, tingly feeling slowly creeps up my leg like a caterpillar up bark. —Katie Lockhart, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2024

Monarch caterpillars are partial to milkweed While the Very Hungry Caterpillar may have eaten everything in sight, monarch caterpillars are a bit picky. —Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024

Each level includes a wonder flower, a new mechanic that sends Mario on something like a psychedelic trip, reconfiguring the world around him — warp pipes start crawling like caterpillars, rhinos begin a stampede and some mountains gain a set of googly eyes. —Zachary Small, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2023

Box tree moth caterpillars are green and yellow, with black and white stripes and black spots running down their back. —Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 9 Apr. 2024

By mid-month, most Tussock moth caterpillars will be in cocoons. —Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024

The cups can be linked to make a caterpillar or built into a tall tower, providing children with hours of water fun at a super affordable price. —Christin Perry, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024

The pace of change can cause the seasonal cycles of plants and the creatures that depend on them, such as caterpillars and bees, to get out of sync. —Harry Stevens, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English catyrpel, from Anglo-French *catepelose, literally, hairy cat

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing caterpillar

• forest tent caterpillar
• tent caterpillar

Kids Definition

caterpillar

noun

cat·​er·​pil·​lar ˈkat-ə(r)-ˌpil-ər 

: the long wormlike larva of a butterfly or moth

also : any of various similar insect larvae (as of a sawfly)

Etymology

Noun

Middle English catyrpel "caterpillar," from an early French dialect word catepelose "caterpillar," literally, "hairy cat," from cate "female cat" and pelose "hairy," derived from Latin pilus "hair" — related to pile entry 5

Word Origin

On looking at a fuzzy caterpillar you might see a resemblance to another animal. One kind of caterpillar must have reminded some people of a bear and was at one time called a bear worm and later a woolly bear. In France long ago, the fuzzy caterpillars probably made some people think of little dogs. The French word for caterpillar is chenille, which comes from a Latin word for "little dog." But our word caterpillar comes from an early French dialect word, catepelose, which is made up of two words meaning "hairy cat." Pelose, meaning "hairy," was taken from Latin pilus, "hair." This Latin word is the same root that gives us our modern English word pile, meaning "a coat or surface of short furry hairs." Since many caterpillars are covered with such a coat, the name is very fitting.