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Synonyms

moth

American  
[mawth, moth] / mɔθ, mɒθ /

noun

plural

moths

  1. any of numerous insects of the order Lepidoptera, generally distinguished from the butterflies by having feathery antennae and by having crepuscular or nocturnal habits.

  2. clothes moth.

moth British  
/ mɒθ /

noun

  1. any of numerous insects of the order Lepidoptera that typically have stout bodies with antennae of various shapes (but not clubbed), including large brightly coloured species, such as hawk moths, and small inconspicuous types, such as the clothes moths Compare butterfly

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • demoth verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of moth

before 950; Middle English motthe, Old English moththe; akin to German Motte, Old Norse motti

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.

"Other insects, like bees and moths, shiver to increase their heat," Stensmyr said.

From Science Daily

The Natural History Museum’s Butterfly Pavilion is back, with up to 30 butterfly and moth species, as well as an assortment of California plants.

From Los Angeles Times

Classic examples include figs and fig wasps and yuccas and yucca moths.

From Science Daily

What is a “moth day”? Maybe I will borrow from Mr. Shawn, an otherwise often-cryptic playwright, and just say that it’s not a synonym for birthday.

From The Wall Street Journal

Dozens of new wild spaces are set to be created to attract butterflies, moths, and other wildlife across Glasgow.

From BBC

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.