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• caterpillar
  caterpillar

  noun

  the wormlike larva of a butterfly or a moth.
• Caterpillar
  Caterpillar

  a tractor intended for rough terrain, propelled by two endless belts or tracks that pass over a number of wheels.

caterpillar

¹ American  

[kat-uh-pil-er, kat-er-] / ˈkæt əˌpɪl ər, ˈkæt ər- /

noun

• caterpillars
  plural

1. the wormlike larva of a butterfly or a moth.

2. a person who preys on others; extortioner.

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Caterpillar ² American  

[kat-uh-pil-er, kat-er-] / ˈkæt əˌpɪl ər, ˈkæt ər- /

Trademark.

1. a tractor intended for rough terrain, propelled by two endless belts or tracks that pass over a number of wheels.

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caterpillar ¹ British  

/ ˈkætəˌpɪlə /

noun

1. the wormlike larva of butterflies and moths, having numerous pairs of legs and powerful biting jaws. It may be brightly coloured, hairy, or spiny

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Caterpillar ² British  

/ ˈkætəˌpɪlə /

noun

1. an endless track, driven by sprockets or wheels, used to propel a heavy vehicle and enable it to cross soft or uneven ground

2. a vehicle, such as a tractor, tank, bulldozer, etc, driven by such tracks

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caterpillar Scientific  

/ kăt′ər-pĭl′ər /

1. The wormlike larva of a butterfly or moth. Caterpillars have thirteen body segments, with three pairs of stubby legs on the thorax and several on the abdomen, six eyes on each side of the head, and short antennae. Caterpillars feed mostly on foliage and are usually brightly colored. Many have poisonous spines.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• caterpillars
  plural

Etymology

Origin of caterpillar

1400–50; late Middle English catyrpel, probably alteration of an Old North French variant of Old French chatepelose, equivalent to chate cat ( def. ) + pelose hairy (≪ Latin pilōsus; see pilose); -yr probably by association with cater tomcat ( see caterwaul); final -er probably by association with piller despoiler ( see pillage, -er ¹); cf. chenille

Explanation

A caterpillar is a fuzzy, worm-like insect that transforms into a butterfly or a moth. Many caterpillars are striped and colorful. A caterpillar is officially the larva, or immature form, of a flying insect — generally, a butterfly. Because caterpillars are growing rapidly, they tend to eat constantly, and for this reason they're considered pests by gardeners and farmers. The word caterpillar comes from the Old North French caterpilose, literally "shaggy cat," from the Late Latin catta, "cat," and pilosus, "hairy" or "shaggy."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

caterpillar Caterpillar caterpillars

Clough said the small skipper needed grass left uncut throughout the year, "because the tiny caterpillar spends the winter inside a grass sheath".

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

At least in the sampled bottles, it was consistently the caterpillar of a single moth species.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 26, 2026

Trefry likened this awkward time of life to the stage in a butterfly’s development when a caterpillar disappears inside a chrysalis and dissolves into goo before reforming into something entirely new.

From Salon ● Nov. 24, 2025

If you’ve ever glimpsed a caterpillar dangling from a branch by a silk thread, they’re on their way down.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2025

Out on this windswept fell, she felt exposed, like a caterpillar dangling on a thread.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Caterpillar, which says on its website that the Piracicaba operation makes various loaders, graders, excavators, compactors and other equipment, didn’t respond to requests for comment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026

Caterpillar shares are up about 50% since the start of the year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

Caterpillar converted another plant in Kansas to produce turbine engines popular with data centers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

GE Vernova GEV 2.12%increase; up pointing triangle and Caterpillar CAT 0.69%increase; up pointing triangle have gained 55% and 47%, respectively.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

Kerri wound up going on the Caterpillar with Adam, too.

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor

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

OPM caterpillars were first accidentally introduced to England in 2005 and the species is subject to a government-led programme of survey and control to minimise its population, spread and impacts, says a Forest Research spokesperson.

From BBC ● May 28, 2026

The local authority advised people not to be concerned about the "harmless" white webbing seen in trees in Belle Isle Park, Exeter, caused by an infestation of caterpillars.

From BBC ● May 13, 2026

She still found time to search out caterpillars, moths, and butterflies, tucking them away in the corner of her kitchen where she could observe and sketch each stage of their lives.

From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman