plural moths ˈmȯt͟hz How to pronounce moth (audio) ˈmȯths How to pronounce moth (audio)
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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
mothlike adjective
mothy adjective

Examples of moth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web One of my most vivid memories is of him trying to catch an invasive moth in Ithaca, [N.Y.], in the middle of winter. Amy Brady, Scientific American, 22 Oct. 2024 The Netherlands and Belgium are testing for several crops a tiny drone that, using infrared light, can detect moths and chop them in half in mid-air. Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 14 Oct. 2024 From the infamous moth that took down Harvard’s Mark II in 1947 to today’s disruptions, like the widespread outage this summer that impacted everything from airlines to hotels and banks to hospitals, bugs have always posed a risk in computing. Dan Rogers, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024 Look for signs such as stains, water damage, moth holes, and droppings. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for moth 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'moth.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mothe, from Old English moththe; akin to Middle High German motte moth

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of moth was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near moth

Cite this Entry

“Moth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moth. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

moth

noun
plural moths ˈmȯt͟hz How to pronounce moth (audio) ˈmȯths How to pronounce moth (audio)
: any of a group of night-flying insects that are lepidopterans often with duller coloring, stouter bodies, and smaller wings than the related butterflies and with antennae which are often feathery

More from Merriam-Webster on moth

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