molt
/məʊlt/ (bre, ipa) · /məʊlt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmōlt/ (ame, mw)
molt — verb
- moltpresent simple I / you / we / they
- moltspresent simple I / you / we / they
- moltedpast simple
- molting-ing form
1. if a bird, insect, snake, or similar animal molts, it naturally drops an old lay
if a bird, insect, snake, or similar animal molts, it naturally drops an old layer such as feathers, skin, or shell and replaces it with a new one
In late summer, Amira's parrot molts its long tail feathers.
molt + feathers in a seasonal cycle
The snake molted overnight and left a pale skin behind.
By spring, many young crabs have molted and grown larger shells.
Zayd recorded the moth as it molted from pupa to adult.
In the lab, Padma watched the beetle molt its outer skin.
- shed
the everyday verb; less technical than 'molt'
- slough off
more formal, often used for skin or an outer layer
- moult
the British spelling of the same verb
文法句型
molt
molt + feathers / skin / shell
用法筆記
Common in biology writing about birds, reptiles, insects, and crustaceans. In everyday English, people more often say an animal 'sheds' fur, hair, or skin. British English usually spells this word 'moult'.
常見錯誤
molt — noun
1. a stage when an insect, crab, snake, or similar animal is losing its old outer l
a stage when an insect, crab, snake, or similar animal is losing its old outer layer while a fresh one forms
During the molt, the young lobster stayed hidden under the rock.
during the molt
The crab's soft body is most vulnerable right after a molt.
after a molt
Lauren marked each cicada's final molt on the field chart.
The lizard refused food for two days before its molt.
A butterfly cannot fly for long just after its final molt.
- shedding period
a plainer description, not a fixed technical term
- ecdysis
a very technical biology term, especially for reptiles and insects
文法句型
during a molt
after a molt
用法筆記
Used mainly in scientific, farming, or animal-care contexts. It refers to the stage itself, while the verb describes the action an animal performs.