moth Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae

WordNet

Moth noun
Definitions
  1. A mote. Obs. Shak.
Moth noun
Etymology
OE. mothe, AS. mo&edh;&edh;e; akin to D. mot, G. motte, Icel. motti, and prob. to E. mad an earthworm. Cf. Mad, n., Mawk.
Wordforms
plural Moths
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) Any nocturnal lepidopterous insect, or any not included among the butterflies; as, the luna moth; Io moth; hawk moth.
  2. (Zoöl.) 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.) 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.

Webster 1913