millipede

American  

[mil-uh-peed] / ˈmɪl əˌpid /

Or millepede

noun

1. any terrestrial arthropod of the class Diplopoda, having a cylindrical body composed of 20 to more than 100 segments, each with two pairs of legs.

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millipede British  

/ ˈmɪlɪˌpiːd /

noun

1. any terrestrial herbivorous arthropod of the class Diplopoda, having a cylindrical body made up of many segments, each of which bears two pairs of walking legs See also myriapod

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millipede Scientific  

/ mĭl′ə-pēd′ /

1. Any of various wormlike arthropods of the class Diplopoda, having a long body composed of many narrow segments, most of which have two pairs of legs. Millipedes feed on plants and, unlike centipedes, do not have venomous pincers.

2. Compare centipede

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Etymology

Origin of millipede

1595–1605; < Latin mīlipeda (Pliny), equivalent to mīli- milli- + -peda, derivative of pēs, stem ped- foot

Compare meaning

How does millipede compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• centipede vs. millipede

Example Sentences

Mr Prendini is the curator of the spider, scorpion, centipede and millipede collections at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, according to the museum's website.

From BBC • May 13, 2024

The museum’s website lists Prendini as the curator of its spider, scorpion, centipede and millipede collections.

From Seattle Times • May 13, 2024

The shocking pink dragon millipede may not breathe fire, but it releases cyanide.

From National Geographic • Feb. 7, 2024

Today celebrities are often top choices for such monikers—take the millipede named for Taylor Swift, the spider named for Bernie Sanders and the wasp named for Brad Pitt.

From Scientific American • Nov. 7, 2023

From the dance floor it seemed to be more than it was: one hundred couples, two hundred people, four hundred dancing legs seemed to be a single festive flowery creature, a fabulous millipede.

From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli