Etymology : Middle English mothe, from Old English moththe; akin to Middle High German motte moth
Pronunciation : 'moth
Function : noun
Date : before 12th century
1. type of nocturnal flying insect similar to a butterfly. moth\moth\ (m&obreve;th), n. a mote. [obs.]moth \moth\, n.; pl. moths (m&obreve;thz). [oe. mothe, as. mo??e; akin to d. mot, g. motte, icel. motti, and prob. to e. mad an earthworm. cf. mad, n., mawk.].
2. (zo?l.) any nocturnal lepidopterous insect, or any not included among the butterflies; as, the luna moth; io moth; hawk moth.
3. (zo?l.) any lepidopterous insect that feeds upon garments, grain, etc.; as, the clothes moth; grain moth; bee moth. see:
these terms under clothes, grain, etc.
4. (zo?l.) any one of various other insects that destroy woolen and fur goods, etc., esp. the larv? of several species of beetles of the genera dermestes and anthrenus. carpet moths are often the larv? of anthrenus. see:
carpet beetle, under carpet, dermestes, anthrenus.
5. anything which gradually and silently eats, consumes, or wastes any other thing.moth blight (zo?l.), any plant louse of the genus aleurodes, and related genera. they are injurious to various plants.moth gnat (zo?l.), a dipterous insect of the genus bychoda, having fringed wings.moth hunter (zo?l.), the goatsucker.moth miller (zo?l.), 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.moth typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennaemoth heb. 'ash, from a root meaning "to fall away," as moth-eaten garments fall to pieces (job 4:19; 13:28; isa. 50:9; 51:8; hos. 5:12). gr. ses, thus rendered in matt. 6:19, 20; luke 12.
6. allusion is thus made to the destruction of clothing by the larvae of the clothes-moth. this is the only lepidopterous insect referred to in scripture.
7. A mote.
8. Any nocturnal lepidopterous insect, or any not included among the butterflies; as, the luna moth; Io moth; hawk moth.
9. Any lepidopterous insect that feeds upon garments, grain, etc.; as, the clothes moth; grain moth; bee moth.
10. See these terms under Clothes, Grain, etc.
11. 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.
12. Carpet moths are often the larvæ of Anthrenus.
13. See Carpet beetle, under Carpet, Dermestes, Anthrenus.
14. Anything which gradually and silently eats, consumes, or wastes any other thing. typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae.
15. A moth is an insect like a butterfly which usually flies about at night. Any of several thousand lepidopteran species, found in all but polar habitats. Moths are chiefly nocturnal and have a stouter body, duller colouring, and proportionately smaller wings than butterflies. They have distinctive feathery antennae and, when at rest, fold their wings, wrap them around the body, or hold them extended at their sides. Wingspans range from less than 1 in. (2.5 cm) to about 1 ft (30 cm). The life cycle has four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar, or worm), pupa (chrysalis), and adult (imago). Both larvae and adults of most species are plant eaters, and many seriously damage forests, agricultural crops, and fabrics. See also bagworm moth; gypsy moth; hawk moth; luna moth; miller; saturniid moth; silkworm moth; tiger moth; tussock moth. owlet moth bagworm moth gypsy moth hawk moth sphinx moth luna moth saturniid moth giant silkworm moth silkworm moth tiger moth tussock moth.