molt

American  

[mohlt] / moʊlt /

especially British, moult

verb (used without object)

1. (of birds, insects, reptiles, etc.) to cast or shed the feathers, skin, or the like, that will be replaced by a new growth.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cast or shed (feathers, skin, etc.) in the process of renewal.

noun

1. an act, process, or an instance of molting.

2. something that is dropped in molting.

molt British  

/ məʊlt /

verb

1. the usual US spelling of moult

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molt Scientific  

/ mōlt /

1. To shed an outer covering, such as skin or feathers, for replacement by a new growth. Many snakes, birds, and arthropods molt.

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Other Word Forms

• molter noun

Etymology

Origin of molt

1300–50; earlier mout (with intrusive -l-; fault, assault ), Middle English mouten, Old English -mūtian to change (in bi-mūtian to exchange for) < Latin mūtāre to change; mutate

Example Sentences

And crabs need that deep substrate to safely molt, or they risk being eaten by a hungry tankmate.

From Slate • Aug. 19, 2025

The number of northern elephant seals migrating to California beaches to mate and molt grew from 10,000 in 1972 to about 125,000 today.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 16, 2025

Mr. Rave says that after the eggs hatch, many of the mothers go off to molt.

From NewsForKids.net • May 7, 2024

I evolved this trait for a reason and can’t molt it as easily as a rat flea sheds its skin.

From Salon • Oct. 31, 2023

“The locusts are in bloom, so that means the crabs is havin’ their first molt.

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings