millipede

noun mil·li·pede \ ˈmi-lə-ˌpēd \

Updated on: 8 Apr 2018

Definition of millipede

: 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

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Recent Examples of millipede from the Web

Think of spiders or millipedes, neither of which trip over themselves, despite being equipped only with bug brains.

— r. douglas fields, Scientific American, "Wristband Lets the Brain Control a Computer with a Thought and a Twitch," 27 Mar. 2018
Yes, cyanide—the same chemical compound that spies put in their worst-case-scenario capsules and millipedes emit to keep predators away.

— jason bittel, Smithsonian, "Soon, You Could Be Able to Tell if Your Aquarium Fish Was Caught With Cyanide," 11 May 2017
Scientists discovered the pink dragon millipede in 2007 in the Greater Mekong region of Thailand.

— liz langley, National Geographic, "7 Real-Life Dragons That Live Up to Their Names," 28 Jan. 2017
While the gonopods are on the seventh segment, the millipede’s sperm actually originates on the second segment.

— National Geographic, "Sneaky Animal Sex—Are They or Aren’t They?," 16 Sep. 2017
According to Greshko, the ants were afraid of everything from millipedes to mites to smaller ants.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "T. Rex Ants Found Alive for the First Time," 17 May 2017
The ranks include not only fireflies but also some beetles, millipedes and earthworms.

— author: william j. broad, Alaska Dispatch News, "The deep seas are alive with light," 23 Aug. 2017
Yes, cyanide—the same chemical compound that spies put in their worst-case-scenario capsules and millipedes emit to keep predators away.

— jason bittel, Smithsonian, "Can We Ever Have a Cyanide-Free Aquarium Fish?," 11 May 2017
Passengers boarded a rusting, creaking millipede overtaken by trucks, buses and grazing animals that had claimed parts of the railway as resting spots.

— kimiko de freytas-tamura, New York Times, "Kenyans Fear Chinese-Backed Railway Is Another ‘Lunatic Express’," 8 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'millipede.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.

Origin and Etymology of millipede

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

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First Known Use: 1601

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MILLIPEDE Defined for English Language Learners

millipede

noun

Definition of millipede for English Language Learners

: a small creature that is like an insect and that has a long, thin body with many legs

MILLIPEDE Defined for Kids

millipede

noun mil·li·pede \ ˈmi-lə-ˌpēd \

Definition of millipede for Students

: an animal that is an arthropod with a long roundish body somewhat like that of a centipede but with two pairs of legs on most of its many body sections

Medical Dictionary

millipede

noun mil·li·pede \ ˈmil-ə-ˌpēd \

medical Definition of millipede

: 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