caterpillar
noun
the wormlike larva of a butterfly or a moth.
caterpillars
-
pluralof caterpillar.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In exchange, the ants aggressively protect their host plants from leaf-eating insects such as caterpillars.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026
Julie was raising some caterpillars too, and she cared a lot about them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
Too much bracken inhibits the growth of the dog violet, the food source for the caterpillars.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
Gareth Tilley bought a UV torch to try and find the caterpillars in May 2022.
From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026
They collected so many caterpillars that it was difficult to keep track of all their food sources.
From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman
