exuviae
Americanplural noun
plural noun
Other Word Forms
- exuvial adjective
Etymology
Origin of exuviae
First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin, derivative of exuere “to remove, strip off, divest oneself of,” from ex- ex- 1 + -uere “to put on”
Vocabulary lists containing exuviae
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.
The final step in the metamorphosis, if all goes well: The case splits open, and the winged creature molts, ready to take its first flight in pursuit of prey, leaving the exuviae behind.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 11, 2022
On a recent pondside walk, Brand came upon various dragonfly exuviae — the outer casings of young dragonflies.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 11, 2022
Unlike us, insects molt as they grow up, producing a series of crinkly silhouettes of their outgrown exoskeletons, also called exuviae.
From New York Times • Mar. 2, 2022
The researchers focused on exuviae and frass from crickets, mealworms and black soldier flies, said Katherine Barragán-Fonseca, a doctoral student at Wageningen University & Research and an author of the paper.
From New York Times • Mar. 2, 2022
In all the regions of the globe, immense masses are found, which, though at present in the most solid state, appear to have been formed by the collection of the calcareous exuviae of marine animals.
From Theory of the Earth, Volume 1 (of 4) by Hutton, James
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
