millipede

noun

mil·​li·​pede ˈmi-lə-ˌpēd How to pronounce millipede (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Since 2018, several new groups of millipedes have been discovered on the Malay Peninsula, according to the study. Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 30 June 2025 About 85% of the animals on Earth today are arthropods -- including shrimps, lobsters, spiders, mites, millipedes and centipedes, the paper stated. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 31 Mar. 2025 Researchers collected dozens of millipedes from the ground and trees around the hotel. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 20 May 2025 Said hands will be inside a box, which will then be filled with big ass bugs (starting with giant millipedes). Tom Smyth, Vulture, 6 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for millipede

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of millipede was in 1601

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Millipede.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/millipede. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

millipede

noun
mil·​li·​pede ˈmil-ə-ˌpēd How to pronounce millipede (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce millipede (audio)
: 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

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