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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
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Passengers boarded a rusting, creaking millipede overtaken by trucks, buses and grazing animals that had claimed parts of the railway as resting spots.
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According to Greshko, the ants were afraid of everything from millipedes to mites to smaller ants.
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Since the 1800s, the cliffs have yielded numerous finds, including tracks and segments of millipedes that may have been seven feet long.
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So consider this a great day to be an ant or an entomologist—but certainly not a millipede.
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
MILLIPEDE Defined for English Language Learners
millipede
playDefinition of millipede for English Language Learners
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: a small creature that is like an insect and that has a long, thin body with many legs
MILLIPEDE Defined for Kids
millipede
playDefinition 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
playMedical 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
Learn More about millipede
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See words that rhyme with millipede Spanish Central: Translation of millipede Nglish: Translation of millipede for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about millipede
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