noun

caterpillar

KA-tuh-pih-luh

noun

The wormlike larval stage of a butterfly or moth.

"A fat green caterpillar was munching on the cabbage leaves."

A vehicle fitted with continuous tracks instead of wheels, used for rough terrain.

"A caterpillar tractor cleared the muddy field."

How to Use Caterpillar

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe larval, worm-like stage of a butterfly or moth before it becomes a chrysalis, or a tracked vehicle.

Common pairings

caterpillar tracks a fuzzy caterpillar

caterpillared past tense, caterpillars plural, caterpillars singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

A fat green _____ was munching on the cabbage leaves.

From Middle English catirpel, likely from Old Northern French words meaning "hairy cat," combining Late Latin catta ("cat") with pilosa ("hairy").

pillar Millar