English edit

 
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A caterpillar—the larva of a butterfly or moth.

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English catirpel, catirpeller, probably from Old Northern French catepeluse (Modern French chatte + pileuse (hairy cat)), from Late Latin catta + pilōsa.

The sense "rapacious, extortionate person" arose by association with obsolete piller (plunderer).

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

caterpillar (plural caterpillars)

  1. The larva of a butterfly or moth; leafworm.
    The bird just ate that green caterpillar.
  2. A vehicle with a caterpillar track; a crawler.
  3. (mathematics) A set of subtrees of a tree.
  4. (obsolete) A rapacious, extortionate person preying upon the community.

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

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See also edit

Swedish edit

Noun edit

caterpillar c

  1. A vehicle with caterpillar track
    Synonym: bandfordon

Declension edit

Declension of caterpillar 
Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative caterpillar caterpillarn caterpillrar caterpillrarna
Genitive caterpillars caterpillarns caterpillrars caterpillrarnas