0%

caterpillar

cat·er·pil·lar
C c

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [kat-uh-pil-er, kat-er-]
    • /ˈkæt əˌpɪl ər, ˈkæt ər-/
    • /ˈkæt.ə.pɪl.ər/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [kat-uh-pil-er, kat-er-]
    • /ˈkæt əˌpɪl ər, ˈkæt ər-/

Definitions of caterpillar word

  • countable noun caterpillar A caterpillar is a small, worm-like animal that feeds on plants and eventually develops into a butterfly or moth. 3
  • noun caterpillar the wormlike larva of butterflies and moths, having numerous pairs of legs and powerful biting jaws. It may be brightly coloured, hairy, or spiny 3
  • noun caterpillar an endless track, driven by sprockets or wheels, used to propel a heavy vehicle and enable it to cross soft or uneven ground 3
  • noun caterpillar a vehicle, such as a tractor, tank, bulldozer, etc, driven by such tracks 3
  • noun caterpillar the wormlike larva of various insects, esp. of a butterfly or moth 3
  • noun caterpillar a tractor equipped on each side with a continuous roller belt over cogged wheels, for moving over rough or muddy ground 3

Information block about the term

Origin of caterpillar

First appearance:

before 1400
One of the 24% oldest English words
1400-50; late Middle English catyrpel, probably alteration of an Old North French variant of Old French chatepelose, equivalent to chate cat + 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, -er1); cf. chenille

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Caterpillar

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

caterpillar popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 88% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

caterpillar usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for caterpillar

noun caterpillar

  • canker — A canker is something evil that spreads and affects things or people.
  • butterfly — A butterfly is an insect with large colourful wings and a thin body.
  • moth — any of numerous insects of the order Lepidoptera, generally distinguished from the butterflies by having feathery antennae and by having crepuscular or nocturnal habits.
  • tractor — a powerful motor-driven vehicle with large, heavy treads, used for pulling farm machinery, other vehicles, etc.
  • larva — Entomology. the immature, wingless, feeding stage of an insect that undergoes complete metamorphosis.

Top questions with caterpillar

  • how do you spell caterpillar?
  • how many legs does a caterpillar have?
  • how many legs do a caterpillar have?
  • how do you say caterpillar in spanish?
  • how to draw a caterpillar?
  • what does a wooly bear caterpillar turn into?
  • who owns caterpillar?
  • just when the caterpillar thought the world was over?
  • what is a caterpillar?
  • how does a caterpillar turn into a butterfly?
  • what do monarch caterpillar eat?
  • just when the caterpillar?
  • how long does a caterpillar stay in its cacoon?
  • how to get rid of caterpillar infestation?
  • what eats a caterpillar?

See also

Matching words

Was this page helpful?
Yes No
Thank you for your feedback! Tell your friends about this page
Tell us why?