MOTH

moth

(noun) typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology 1

Noun

moth (plural moths)

A usually nocturnal insect of the order Lepidoptera, distinguished from butterflies by feather-like antennae.

(figurative) Anything that gradually and silently eats, consumes, or wastes any other thing.

Synonyms

• lep

Verb

moth (third-person singular simple present moths, present participle mothing, simple past and past participle mothed)

(intransitive) To hunt for moths.

Etymology 2

Noun

moth (countable and uncountable, plural moths)

The plant Vigna aconitifolia, moth bean.

Synonyms

• (Vigna aconitifolia): Turkish gram, mat bean, matki

Etymology 3

Noun

moth (plural moths)

Obsolete form of mote.

(dated) A liver spot, especially an irregular or feathery one.

Anagrams

• Thom

Source: Wiktionary

Moth (môth), n.

Definition: A mote. [Obs.] Shak.

Moth, n.; pl. Moths (môthz). Etym: [OE. mothe, AS. moedhedhe; akin to D. mot, G. motte, Icel. motti, and prob. to E. mad an earthworm. Cf. Mad, n., Mawk.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Definition: Any nocturnal lepidopterous insect, or any not included among the butterflies; as, the luna moth; Io moth; hawk moth.

2. (Zoöl.)

Definition: Any lepidopterous insect that feeds upon garments, grain, etc.; as, the clothes moth; grain moth; bee moth. See these terms under Clothes, Grain, etc.

3. (Zoöl.)

Definition: Any one of various other insects that destroy woolen and fur goods, etc., esp. the larvæ of several species of beetles of the genera Dermestes and Anthrenus. Carpet moths are often the larvæ of Anthrenus. See Carpet beetle, under Carpet, Dermestes, Anthrenus.

4. Anything which gradually and silently eats, consumes, or wastes any other thing. Moth blight (Zoöl.), any plant louse of the genus Aleurodes, and related genera. They are injurious to various plants.

– Moth gnat (Zoöl.), a dipterous insect of the genus Bychoda, having fringed wings.

– Moth hunter (Zoöl.), the goatsucker.

– Moth miller (Zoöl.), a clothes moth. See Miller, 3, (a).

– Moth mullein (Bot.), a common herb of the genus Verbascum (V. Blattaria), having large wheel-shaped yellow or whitish flowers.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition