SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

garden centipede

noun

Definition of garden centipede

: a minute symphilid (Scutigerella immaculata) that often infests the underground parts of truck and greenhouse crops — called also garden symphilid

There's more!

Love words? You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
Advanced search features
Ad free!

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up garden centipede? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

mollycoddle

play

to treat with excessive attention

Words at Play

alt-5ae227cf365c4

‘Magnate’ and ‘Magnet’: Poles Apart

This is kind of a Big Deal

All the Hits

8 obscure words for bodily harm

alt-5adf93a49b0b2

The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

"In point" only lives in this phrase.

alt-5adf5d017e6bf

‘Sleight’ or ‘Slight’ of Hand?

Watch closely and be amazed.

Ask the Editors

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066

Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

video-literally

Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

rain-on-rainbow-umbrella

April 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

The rhyming verb edition.

Take the quiz

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

Take the quiz

Name That Thing

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz

Add Diction

Build a chain of words by adding one letter at a time.

Play the game