moth : Idioms & Phrases

• noun a moth whose larvae feed on and mat together with webbing various stored products of vegetable origin
  Cadra cautella; almond moth.
  

WordNet

• noun small moth whose larvae feed on kernels of stored grains
  Sitotroga cerealella; angoumois grain moth.
  

WordNet

• noun small moth whose larvae feed on kernels of stored grains
  Sitotroga cerealella; angoumois grain moth.
  

WordNet

An`gou`mois" moth"

Etymology

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A small moth (Gelechia cerealella) which is very destructive to wheat and other grain. The larva eats out the inferior of the grain, leaving only the shell.

Webster 1913

• noun European moth with white antler-like markings on the forewings; the larvae damage pastures and grasslands
  Cerapteryx graminis.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a destructive European moth (Cerapteryx graminis), which devastates grass lands.

Webster 1913

• noun stout-bodied broad-winged moth with conspicuously striped or spotted wings; larvae are hairy caterpillars
  arctiid.
  

WordNet

• noun giant saturniid moth widespread in Asia; sometimes cultured for silk
  Atticus atlas.
  

WordNet

• noun moth whose larvae live in and feed on bee honeycombs
  Galleria mellonella; bee moth.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a moth (Galleria cereana) whose larvæ feed on honeycomb, occasioning great damage in beehives.

Webster 1913

• noun moderate-sized Asiatic moth whose larvae feed on mulberry leaves and produce silk
  bombycid moth; bombycid.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the name of several species of moths, the larvæ of which eat books.

Webster 1913

• noun small brown and white European moth introduced into eastern United States; pest of various shade and fruit trees
  Euproctis phaeorrhoea; browntail.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a lepidopterous insect of several species, which destroys the buds of fruit trees; esp. Tmetocera ocellana and Eccopsis malana on the apple tree.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), in England, a handsome moth (Zygæna filipendula), with crimson spots on the wings.

Webster 1913

• noun small moth whose larvae feed on tobacco and other dried plant products
  cacao moth; Ephestia elutella.
  

WordNet

• noun larvae feed on carpets and other woolens
  carpet moth; Trichophaga tapetzella.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the larva of an insect which feeds on carpets and other woolen goods. There are several kinds. Some are the larvæ of species of Tinea (as T. tapetzella); others of beetles, esp. Anthrenus.

Webster 1913

• noun the larvae live in tubes of its food material fastened with silk that it spins
  Tinea pellionella.
  

WordNet

• noun North American silkworm moth; larvae feed on the leaves of forest trees
  cecropia; Hyalophora cecropia.
  

WordNet

• noun large red-and-black European moth; larvae feed on leaves of ragwort; introduced into United States to control ragwort
  cinnabar; Callimorpha jacobeae.
  

WordNet

• noun any of several small yellowish or buff-colored moths whose larvae eat organic matter e.g. woolens
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a small moth of the genus Tinea. The most common species (T. flavifrontella)is yellowish white. The larvæ eat woolen goods, furs, feathers, etc. They live in tubular cases made of the material upon which they feed, fastened together with silk.

Webster 1913

• noun a small grey moth whose larvae live in apples and English walnuts
  codlin moth; Carpocapsa pomonella.
  

WordNet

• noun a small grey moth whose larvae live in apples and English walnuts
  codlin moth; Carpocapsa pomonella.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a small moth (Carpocapsa Pomonella), which in the larval state (known as the apple worm) lives in apples, often doing great damage to the crop.

Webster 1913

• noun native to Europe; in America the larvae bore into the stem and crown of corn and other plants
  corn borer; Pyrausta nubilalis; corn borer moth.
  

WordNet

• noun large Asiatic moth introduced into the United States; larvae feed on the ailanthus
  Samia walkeri; Samia cynthia.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any moth of the genus Apatalea. The larvæ are often destructive to the foliage of fruit trees, etc.

Webster 1913

• noun European hawkmoth with markings on the back resembling a human skull
  Acherontia atropos.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a very large European moth (Acherontia atropos), so called from a figure resembling a human skull on the back of the thorax; called also death's-head sphinx.

Webster 1913

• noun stocky creamy-white Asiatic moth found almost entirely under human care; the source of most of the silk commerce
  Bombyx mori; domestic silkworm moth.
  

WordNet

• noun stocky creamy-white Asiatic moth found almost entirely under human care; the source of most of the silk commerce
  Bombyx mori; domestic silkworm moth.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a large British moth (Odonestis potatoria).

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), one of numerous species of moths of which the larvæ destroy the leaves of the elm (esp. Eugonia subsignaria, called elm spanworm).

Webster 1913

• noun large moth of temperate forests of Eurasia having heavily scaled transparent wings
  emperor; Saturnia pavonia.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), one of several large and beautiful bombycid moths, with transparent spots on the wings; as the American Cecropia moth (Platysamia cecropia), and the European species (Saturnia pavonia).

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a white moth with black spots (esp. Yponomeuta padella of Europe); so called on account of the resemblance of its covering to the fur of the ermine; also applied to certain white bombycid moths of America.

Webster 1913

• noun native to Europe; in America the larvae bore into the stem and crown of corn and other plants
  corn borer; Pyrausta nubilalis; corn borer moth.
  

WordNet

• noun a moth whose larvae feed on and mat together with webbing various stored products of vegetable origin
  Cadra cautella; almond moth.
  

WordNet

• noun small slender-winged moths whose larvae are agricultural pests
  gelechiid.
  

WordNet

• noun slender-bodied broad-winged moth whose larvae are called measuring worms
  geometrid.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a large European moth (Hepialus humuli); so called from the white color of the male, and the peculiar hovering flight; called also great swift.

Webster 1913

• noun any silkworm moth of the family Saturniidae
  giant silkworm moth.
  

WordNet

• noun European moth introduced into North America; a serious pest of shade trees
  Lymantria dispar; gipsy moth.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any moth of the genus Cossus, esp. the large European species (C. ligniperda), the larva of which burrows in oak and willow trees, and requires three years to mature. It exhales an odor like that of the he-goat.

Webster 1913

• noun white furry-bodied European moth with a yellow tail tuft
  Euproctis chrysorrhoea.
  

WordNet

• noun small dull or metallic-colored tineoid moths whose larvae mine in plant leaves
  gracilariid.
  

WordNet

• noun moth whose larvae feed on grain
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), one of several small moths, of the family Tineidæ (as Tinea granella and Butalis cereAlella), whose larvæ devour grain in storehouses.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a small moth (Eudemis botrana), which in the larval state eats the interior of grapes, and often binds them together with silk.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), one of many small moths of the genus Crambus, found in grass.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a pyralid moth (Aglossa pinguinalis) whose larva eats greasy cloth, etc.

Webster 1913

• noun European moth introduced into North America; a serious pest of shade trees
  Lymantria dispar; gipsy moth.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a moth (Phobetron pithecium), the larva of which has curious side appendages, and feeds on fruit trees.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any moth which destroys goods made of hair, esp. Tinea biselliella.

Webster 1913

• . (Zoöl.) See Magpie Moth.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), an American bombycid moth (Arctia phalerata of Harris), having, on the fore wings, stripes and bands of buff on a black ground.

Webster 1913

• noun any of various moths with long narrow forewings capable of powerful flight and hovering over flowers to feed
  hawk moth; hawkmoth; sphingid; hummingbird moth.
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) See Hawk moth, in the Vocabulary.

Webster 1913

• noun medium-sized moth whose larvae are corn earworms
  Heliothis zia.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the wax moth.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a moth (Hypena humuli), which in the larval state is very injurious to hop vines.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a hawk moth. See Hawk moth, under Hawk, the bird.

Webster 1913

• noun any of various moths with long narrow forewings capable of powerful flight and hovering over flowers to feed
  hawk moth; hawkmoth; sphingid; hummingbird moth.
  

WordNet

• noun large American moth having yellow wings with purplish or brownish markings; larvae feed on e.g. maple and pine trees
  Eacles imperialis.
  

WordNet

• noun large yellow American moth having a large eyelike spot on each hind wing; the larvae have stinging spines
  Automeris io.
  

WordNet

I"o moth`

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A large and handsome American moth (Hyperchiria Io), having a large, bright-colored spot on each hind wing, resembling the spots on the tail of a peacock. The larva is covered with prickly hairs, which sting like nettles.

Webster 1913

Is`a*bel"la moth`

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A common American moth (Pyrrharctia isabella), of an isabella color. The larva, called woolly bear and hedgehog caterpillar, is densely covered with hairs, which are black at each end of the body, and red in the middle part.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the moth which produces the lackey caterpillar.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a moth so called from a mark on its wings, resembling the Greek letter lambda (Λ).

Webster 1913

• noun medium-sized hairy moths; larvae are lappet caterpillars
  lappet.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), one of several species of bombycid moths, which have stout, hairy caterpillars, flat beneath. Two common American species (Gastropacha Americana, and Tolype velleda) feed upon the apple tree.

Webster 1913

• noun medium-sized stout-bodied neutral-colored moths with comb-like antennae
  lasiocampid.
  

WordNet

• noun large pale-green American moth with long-tailed hind wings and a yellow crescent-shaped mark on each forewing
  Actias luna.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a very large and beautiful American moth (Actias luna). Its wings are delicate light green, with a stripe of purple along the front edge of the anterior wings, the other margins being edged with pale yellow. Each wing has a lunate spot surrounded by rings of light yellow, blue, and black. The caterpillar commonly feeds on the hickory, sassafras, and maple.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a black and white European geometrid moth (Abraxas grossulariata); the harlequin moth. Its larva feeds on currant and gooseberry bushes.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any moth whose larva constructs an earthen cocoon under the soil.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a lepidopterous insect (Asopia farinalis), the larvæ of which feed upon meal, flour, etc.

Webster 1913

• noun small moth whose larvae damage stored grain and flour
  Anagasta kuehniella.
  

WordNet

• noun East Indian legume having hairy foliage and small yellow flowers followed by cylindrical pods; used especially in India for food and forage and as a soil conditioner; sometimes placed in genus Phaseolus
  Vigna aconitifolia; Phaseolus aconitifolius.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any plant louse of the genus Aleurodes, and related genera. They are injurious to various plants.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a dipterous insect of the genus Bychoda, having fringed wings.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the goatsucker.

Webster 1913

• noun any of various moths that have powdery wings
  miller.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a clothes moth. See Miller, 3, (a).

Webster 1913

• noun European mullein with smooth leaves and large yellow or purplish flowers; naturalized as a weed in North America
  Verbascum blattaria.
  

WordNet

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

Webster 1913

• noun any of various orchids of the genus Phalaenopsis having often drooping glossy broad obovate or oval leaves usually dark green flushed purple or mottled grey and silver
  moth orchid.
  

WordNet

• noun any of various orchids of the genus Phalaenopsis having often drooping glossy broad obovate or oval leaves usually dark green flushed purple or mottled grey and silver
  moth orchid.
  

WordNet

Moth"-eat` transitive verb

Definitions

1. To eat or prey upon, as a moth eats a garment. Rarely used except in the form moth-eaten, p.p. or a.

   Ruin and neglect have so moth-eaten her. Sir T. Herbert.

Webster 1913

• adjective satellite showing signs of wear and tear
  ratty; tatty; shabby.
  
  • a ratty old overcoat
  • shabby furniture
  • an old house with dirty windows and tatty curtains
• adjective satellite worn or eaten away by (or as if by) moths
  mothy.
  
  • moth-eaten blankets
• adjective satellite lacking originality or spontaneity; no longer new
  dusty; cold; stale.
  
  • moth-eaten theories about race
  • stale news

WordNet

• adjective satellite resistant to damage by moths
  mothproof.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any one of the noctuids.

Webster 1913

• noun usually dull-colored medium-sized nocturnal moth; the usually smooth-bodied larvae are destructive agricultural pests
  noctuid moth; noctuid.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a very large moth (Erebus strix). The expanse of its wings is over ten inches.

Webster 1913

• noun usually dull-colored medium-sized nocturnal moth; the usually smooth-bodied larvae are destructive agricultural pests
  noctuid moth; noctuid.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any noctuid moth.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any moth of the genus Margaritia; so called on account of its pearly color.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a European moth (Biston betularia) having white wings covered with small black specks.

Webster 1913

• noun a Chinese moth that produces a brownish silk
  Antheraea pernyi.
  

WordNet

Per"ny*i moth"

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A silk-producing moth (Attacus Pernyi) which feeds upon the oak. It has been introduced into Europe and America from China.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any one of several species of small tortricid moths of the genus Retinia, whose larvæ burrow in the ends of the branchlets of pine trees, often doing great damage.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any one of numerous small, slender moths, belonging to the family Pterophoridæ. Most of them have the wings deeply divided into two or more plumelike lobes. Some species are injurious to the grapevine.

Webster 1913

• noun very large yellowish-brown American silkworm moth with large eyespots on hind wings; larvae feed on fruit and shade trees
  Antheraea polyphemus.
  

WordNet

• noun greyish-brown moth whose larva is the potato tuberworm
  splitworm; Phthorimaea operculella; potato moth.
  

WordNet

• noun greyish-brown moth whose larva is the potato tuberworm
  splitworm; Phthorimaea operculella; potato moth.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any moth of the genus Cnethocampa, especially C. processionea of Europe, whose larvæ make large webs on oak trees, and go out to feed in regular order. They are covered with stinging hairs.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any moth of the family Notodontidæ; a notodontian; so called because the larva has a hump or prominence on its back. Several of the species are injurious to fruit trees.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any one of several species of stout bombycid moths belonging to Cerura, Harpyia, and allied genera, esp. Harpyia vinuli, of Europe. The larvæ are humpbacked, and have two caudal appendages.

Webster 1913

• noun usually tropical slender-bodied long-legged moth whose larvae are crop pests
  pyralid.
  

WordNet

• noun moth whose larvae attack dried fruits and cereal products
  Cadra figulilella.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any moth belonging to Agrotis and allied genera. Their larvæ are called cutworms. See Cutworm.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a handsome European noctuid moth (Scopelosoma satellitia).

Webster 1913

• noun large brightly colored and usually tropical moth; larvae spin silken cocoons
  saturniid.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of geometrid moths of the genus Lobophora, having the hind wings deeply bilobed, so that they seem to have six wings.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the adult moth of any silkworm. See Silkworm.

Webster 1913

• noun any silkworm moth of the family Saturniidae
  giant silkworm moth.
  
• noun moderate-sized Asiatic moth whose larvae feed on mulberry leaves and produce silk
  bombycid moth; bombycid.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a lepisma.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any insect which destroys the prepared skins of animals, especially the larva of Dermestes and Anthrenus.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any pyralid moth. See Pyralid.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a large geometrid moth (Euschema militaris), having the wings bright yellow with bluish black lines and spots.

Webster 1913

• noun any of various moths with long narrow forewings capable of powerful flight and hovering over flowers to feed
  hawk moth; hawkmoth; sphingid; hummingbird moth.
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) Same as Sphinx, 3.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), an Australian moth (Doratifera vulnerans) whose larva is armed, at each end of the body, with four tubercles bearing powerful stinging organs.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any one of several species of moth whose larvæ feed on the strawberry vines ; as: (a) The smeared dagger (Apatela oblinita), whose large hairy larva is velvety black with two rows of bright yellow spots on each side. (b) A geometrid (Angerona crocataria) which is yellow with dusky spots on the wings. Called also currant moth.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a European moth (Urapteryx sambucaria) having tail-like lobes on the hind wings.

Webster 1913

• noun larvae feed on carpets and other woolens
  carpet moth; Trichophaga tapetzella.
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) Same as Carpet moth, under Carpet.

Webster 1913

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

WordNet

• noun medium-sized moth with long richly colored and intricately patterned wings; larvae are called woolly bears
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of moths of the family Arctiadæ which are striped or barred with black and white or with other conspicuous colors. The larvæ are called woolly bears.

Webster 1913

• noun small yellowish moths whose larvae feed on wool or fur
  tineid.
  

WordNet

• noun small dull-colored moth with chewing mouthparts
  tineoid.
  

WordNet

• noun small moth whose larvae feed on tobacco and other dried plant products
  cacao moth; Ephestia elutella.
  

WordNet

• noun any of numerous small moths having lightly fringed wings; larvae are leaf rollers or live in fruits and galls
  tortricid.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any one of several species of small tortricid moths whose larvæ eat the tender shoots of pine and fir trees, causing an exudation of pitch or resin.

Webster 1913

• noun dull-colored moth whose larvae have tufts of hair on the body and feed on the leaves of many deciduous trees
  lymantriid.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the imago of any tussock caterpillar. They belong to Orgyia, Halecidota, and allied genera.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a notodontian moth (Coelodasys unicornis) whose caterpillar has a prominent horn on its back; called also unicorn prominent.

Webster 1913

V" moth`

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A common gray European moth (Halia vauaria) having a V-shaped spot of dark brown on each of the fore wings.

Webster 1913

• . (Zoöl.) See Orgyia.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any moth of the genus Chilo; so called because the mottled colors resemble those of veneering.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of small geometrid moths belonging to Acidalia and allied genera; so called from the wavelike color markings on the wings.

Webster 1913

• noun moth whose larvae live in and feed on bee honeycombs
  Galleria mellonella; bee moth.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a pyralid moth (Galleria cereana) whose larvæ feed upon honeycomb, and construct silken galleries among the fragments. The moth has dusky gray wings streaked with brown near the outer edge. The larva is yellowish white with brownish dots. Called also bee moth.

Webster 1913

• noun moth that forms a web in which it lives
  webbing clothes moth; Tineola bisselliella.
  

WordNet

• noun moth that forms a web in which it lives
  webbing clothes moth; Tineola bisselliella.
  

WordNet

• noun a variety of moth that spins a web in which it lives
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any moth whose larvæ devour the grains of wheat, chiefly after it is harvested; a grain moth. See Angoumois Moth, also Grain moth, under Grain.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any one of several species of geometrid moths which come forth in winter, as the European species (Cheimatobia brumata). These moths have rudimentary mouth organs, and eat no food in the imago state. The female of some of the species is wingless.

Webster 1913

• noun larva of moth of the family Arctiidae
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a handsome European noctuid moth Plusia gamma) which has a bright, silvery mark, shaped like the letter Y, on each of the fore wings. Its larva, which is green with five dorsal white species, feeds on the cabbage, turnip, bean, etc. Called also gamma moth, and silver Y.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a small silvery moth (Pronuba yuccasella) whose larvæ feed on plants of the genus Yucca.

Webster 1913