caterpillar : Idioms & Phrases

• (Zoöl.), the hairy larva of a moth, esp. of the genus Euprepia.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a bird belonging to the family of Shrikes, which feeds on caterpillars. The name is also given to several other birds.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any species of beetles of the genus Callosoma and other allied genera of the family Carabidæ which feed habitually upon caterpillars.

Webster 1913

• noun an endless metal belt on which tracked vehicles move over the ground
  track; caterpillar track.
  

WordNet

• noun an endless metal belt on which tracked vehicles move over the ground
  track; caterpillar track.
  

WordNet

• adjective satellite having caterpillar treads or tracks on the wheels
  
  • a caterpillar-tracked earthmover

WordNet

• noun larvae of a gregarious North American moth that spins a web resembling a carpet rather than a tent; serious defoliator of deciduous trees
  Malacosoma disstria.
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.), the larva of an American bombycid moth (Euchætes egle) which is covered with black, white, yellow, and orange tufts of hair.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the hairy larvæ of several species of bombycid moths, as of the Isabella moth. It curls up like a hedgehog when disturbed. See Woolly bear, and Isabella moth.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the larva of the green grapevine sphinx; so called because the head and first three segments are much smaller than those behind them, so as to make a resemblance to a hog's snout. See Hawk moth.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the caterpillar, or larva, of any bombycid moth of the genus Clisiocampa; so called from its party-colored markings. The common European species (C. neustria) is striped with blue, yellow, and red, with a white line on the back. The American species (C. Americana and C. sylvatica) are commonly called tent caterpillars. See Tent caterpillar,under Tent.

Webster 1913

• noun larva of a lappet moth
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the caterpillar of a European bombycid moth (Stauropus fagi); so called from its form.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), an American bombycid moth (Spilosoma acreæ which is very destructive to the salt-marsh grasses and to other crops. Called also wooly bear. See Illust. under Moth, Pupa, and Woolly bear, under Woolly.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the larva of a moth (Limacodes scapha); so called from its peculiar shape.

Webster 1913

• . Same as Slugworm.

Webster 1913

• noun the larvae of moths that build and live in communal silken webs in orchard and shade trees
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any one of several species of gregarious caterpillars which construct on trees large silken webs into which they retreat when at rest. Some of the species are very destructive to fruit trees. The most common American species is the larva of a bombycid moth (Clisiocampa Americana). Called also lackery caterpillar, and webworm.

Webster 1913

• noun moth whose gregarious larvae spin webs resembling carpets
  Malacosoma disstria.
  
• noun moth whose larvae are tent caterpillars
  Malacosoma americana.
  

WordNet

• noun larva of a tussock moth
  

WordNet

• noun caterpillar of numerous moths characterized by a dense coat of woolly hairs; feed on plants and some are destructive pests
  woolly bear.
  

WordNet

• the larva of an American noctuid moth (Mamestra picta). It is light yellow, with a broad black stripe on the back and one on each side; the lateral stripes are crossed with withe lines. It feeds on cabbages, beets, clover, and other cultivated plants.

Webster 1913