moth

\ ˈmȯth

How to pronounce moth (audio)

\

plural moths\ ˈmȯt͟hz

How to pronounce moths (audio)

, ˈmȯths

How to pronounce moths (audio)

\

Definition of moth

1 : clothes moth

2 : any of various usually nocturnal lepidopteran insects with antennae that are often feathery, with a stouter body, duller coloring, and proportionately smaller wings than the butterflies, and with larvae that are plant-eating caterpillars

Other Words from moth Example Sentences Learn More about moth

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of moth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The first clue came while looking at museum moth specimens for a different research project. — Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, "These Nocturnal Moths Sparkle at Night," 3 Jan. 2020 Tiger moth species that contain bad tasting and toxic compounds are nonchalant in the presence of bats, while edible moth species evade their predators. — Susanne Bard, Scientific American, "Moths Flee or Face Bats Depending on Toxicity," 19 Dec. 2019 Find out what happens at this hilarious puppet show -- and see if this moth can go the distance. — Mary Jane Brewer, cleveland, "Don’t hibernate: Join in the January fun at the Medina County Parks," 6 Dec. 2019 Dziedzic’s introduction covers the basic science of butterflies and moths, which includes how these insects differ, their lifecycles, anatomy and family structure. — Sally Peterson, oregonlive, "Gardener gift idea: ‘Raising Butterflies’ book," 9 Dec. 2019 Ives said holly flowers are a source of pollen and nectar for wasps, bees, butterflies, and moths, which act as pollinators for holly. — BostonGlobe.com, "From Christmas decorations to classic holiday songs like “Deck The Halls,” holly is a traditional part of the Christmas season. It’s pointy-edged, dark green leaves and bright red berries are commonly used to make festive looking wreaths that adorn doorways and windows this time of year.," 5 Dec. 2019 Officials said a Hokkaido gypsy moth trapped in Woodway this summer was the first Hokkaido moth caught in the U.S. — USA TODAY, "Rosa Parks statue, newborn polar bear cub, quake rocks Oregon: News from around our 50 states," 2 Dec. 2019 Among these critters are vampire moths, which can pierce the thick skins of buffalo and elephants. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Why the World Needs Bloodsucking Creatures," 2 Dec. 2019 Together the researchers traced the optical effects to nano-sized scales in the moths' wings. — Harini Barath, Scientific American, "Nocturnal Moth Species Has a Flashy Secret," 23 Dec. 2019

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about moth

Dictionary Entries near moth

Statistics for moth

Last Updated

16 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Moth.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moth. Accessed 17 January 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for moth

moth

noun

English Language Learners Definition of moth

: a kind of insect that is similar to a butterfly but that flies mostly at night and is usually less colorful

See the full definition for moth in the English Language Learners Dictionary

moth

\ ˈmȯth

\

plural moths\ ˈmȯt͟hz , ˈmȯths \

Kids Definition of moth

: an insect that usually flies at night and has mostly feathery antennae and stouter body, duller coloring, and smaller wings than the related butterflies

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

tontine

a plan in which a last survivor takes all

Test Your Vocabulary

The Eponym Quiz

Which is the best synonym of bowdlerize?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.