Caterpillar

Pronunciation: /ˈkætərˌpɪlər/

Definitions of caterpillar

noun a wormlike larva of a butterfly or moth, having numerous pairs of legs

Example Sentences

A1 I saw a caterpillar crawling on the leaf.

A2 The caterpillar will eventually turn into a butterfly.

B1 Caterpillars are known for their ability to transform into butterflies.

B2 The caterpillar's diet consists mainly of leaves and plants.

C1 Scientists study the metamorphosis process of caterpillars to better understand evolution.

C2 The intricate patterns on the caterpillar's body are a result of its genetic makeup.

Examples of caterpillar in a Sentence

formal The caterpillar is a larval stage in the life cycle of a butterfly or moth.

informal I found a cute little caterpillar crawling on the tree outside.

slang That caterpillar looks like a tiny noodle with legs!

figurative His business started as a small caterpillar but soon grew into a thriving butterfly.

Grammatical Forms of caterpillar

• past tense: caterpillared
• plural: caterpillars
• comparative: more caterpillar
• superlative: most caterpillar
• present tense: caterpillars
• future tense: will caterpillar
• perfect tense: have caterpillared
• continuous tense: is caterpillaring
• singular: caterpillar
• positive degree: caterpillar
• infinitive: to caterpillar
• gerund: caterpillaring
• participle: caterpillaring

Origin and Evolution of caterpillar

First Known Use: 1440 year

Language of Origin: Old North French

Story behind the word: The word 'caterpillar' is derived from the Old North French word 'caterpelose' which means 'hairy cat'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'caterpillar' shifted from referring to the hairy appearance of the insect to denote the insect itself.