Definition

Noun: 1. A typically nocturnal or crepuscular insect belonging to the order Lepidoptera, characterized by a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae. Moths are closely related to butterflies but are generally active at night or during twilight. 2. Specifically, an insect of this type whose larvae (caterpillars) often feed on and damage materials like fabric, fur, or stored food.

Usage

The word "moth" is a countable noun. It refers to the adult flying insect. The damage to materials is typically caused by its larval stage, but the insect is still referred to as a "moth" (e.g., a clothes moth).

Examples

• General insect:
  • A large, pale moth was fluttering around the porch light.
  • He is an entomologist who studies the diversity of moths in the rainforest.
• Specific type (pest):
  • We need to use cedar blocks to protect the wool sweaters from moths.
  • The pantry was infested with Indian meal moths.

Advanced Usage

• "Like a moth to a flame": An idiom describing a strong and often self-destructive attraction. It is based on the observed behavior of moths being drawn to light sources.
  • The paparazzi were drawn to the celebrity like moths to a flame.

Variants and Related Words

• Mothball (n): A small ball of chemical pesticide placed with stored clothes to repel or kill moths.
  • The sweaters in the trunk smelled strongly of mothballs.
• Moth-eaten (adj): Literally, damaged by moth larvae; figuratively, old, worn-out, or outdated.
  • He wore a moth-eaten old coat.
  • The proposal was based on moth-eaten ideas.

Synonyms

• Lepidopteran (n): A formal term for any insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes both moths and butterflies.
• Noctuid (n): A member of a large family of moths (Noctuidae), often called owlet moths.

Related Phrases

• Clothes moth / Carpet moth: Specific types of moths whose larvae feed on keratin in natural fibers like wool and silk.
• Luna moth / Atlas moth: Names for specific, often large and colorful, species of moths.

Noun

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