Definition of molt
intransitive verb
: to shed hair, feathers, shell, horns, or an outer layer periodically Birds molt once or twice a year.
transitive verb
: to cast off (an outer covering) periodically; specifically : to throw off (the old cuticle (see cuticle 1) —used of arthropods a spider, like a lobster, molts its covering as it grows — Eugene Kinkead
molter
nounPeople Are Reading
Examples of molt in a Sentence
Snakes molt as they grow, shedding the old skin and growing a larger new skin.
a crab molts its shell as it grows larger
Recent Examples of molt from the Web
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Jones said the larval ticks then molt into infected nymphs that can infect humans the following year.
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But the outer layer of his skin molted from 70 percent of his body, and his body shut down in the same sequence that Ouchi’s had.
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A horde of awful gypsy moths is hatching, feeding, molting, spawning.
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A cicada is stuck in its exoskeleton after molting in Herndon, Va. (Kevin Ambrose)
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One of the shrimp in the tank has molted and doubled in size.
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The old feathers might have compromised their ability to stay permanently aloft, or their inability to molt fully might reflect some underlying health problem that affected their flight.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'molt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of molt
alteration of Middle English mouten, from Old English -mūtian to change, from Latin mutare — more at mutable
Recent Examples of molt from the Web
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After the crustaceans molt, they're shipped off to become softshell crab sandwiches in Baltimore or New York.
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Growing larger causes spiders to molt, a process called ecdysis, Jo-Anne Sewlal, an arachnologist at the University of the West Indies, says via email.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'molt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of molt
see 1molt
MOLT Defined for English Language Learners
molt
playDefinition of molt for English Language Learners
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biology : to lose a covering of hair, feathers, etc., and replace it with new growth in the same place
MOLT Defined for Kids
molt
playDefinition of molt for Students
molted
;molting
: to shed outer material (as hair, shell, or horns) that will be replaced by a new growth
Medical Dictionary
moult
Medical Definition of molt
: to shed hair, feathers, shell, horns, or an outer layer periodically
transitive verb
: to cast off (an outer covering) periodically; specifically : to throw off (the old cuticle)—used of arthropods
molt
moult
Medical Definition of molt
: the act or process of molting; specifically : ecdysis
Learn More about molt
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See words that rhyme with molt Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for molt Spanish Central: Translation of molt Nglish: Translation of molt for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of molt for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about molt
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