Moth — Moth, n.; pl. {Moths} (m[o^]thz). [OE. mothe, AS. mo[eth][eth]e; akin to D. mot, G. motte, Icel. motti, and prob. to E. mad an earthworm. Cf. {Mad}, n., {Mawk}.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any nocturnal lepidopterous insect, or any not included among the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
moth|y — «MTH ee, MOTH », adjective, moth|i|er, moth|i|est. infested by moths; moth eaten … Useful english dictionary
MOTH — (Heb. עָשׁ, ash and סָס, sas; AV, JPS – worm ), insect said to eat and destroy clothes (Isa. 51:8; cf. 50:9; Job 13:28). The word ash is also used as a synonym for disintegration and destruction (Hos. 5:12; Ps. 39:12). These names refer to the… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
moth — [ mɔθ ] noun count a flying insect like a BUTTERFLY that flies mostly at night. The young form of some types of moth eat cloth: Protect your rug from damage by moths. like a moth to a candle flame used for emphasizing how much someone is… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
moth — [môth] n. pl. moths [môthz, môths] [ME motthe < OE moththe, akin to Ger motte < IE base * math , gnawing vermin] 1. any of various families of chiefly night flying lepidopteran insects, similar to the butterflies but generally smaller, less … English World dictionary
Moth — (m[o^]th), n. A mote. [Obs.] Shak. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
moth — (n.) O.E. moððe (Northumbrian mohðe), common Germanic (Cf. O.N. motti, M.Du. motte, Du. mot, Ger. Motte moth ), perhaps related to O.E. maða maggot, or from the root of MIDGE (Cf. midge) (q.v.). Until 16c. used mostly of the larva and usually in… … Etymology dictionary
moth|er-to-be — «MUHTH uhr tu BEE», noun, plural moth|ers to be. an expectant mother … Useful english dictionary
moth|er — moth|er1 «MUHTH uhr», noun, verb, adjective. –n. 1. a woman who has given birth to a child: »The mother and father were very proud of their new baby. 2. a female parent: »The puppies have lost their mother. 3. Figurative. the cause or source of… … Useful english dictionary
moth — [mɔθ US mo:θ] n [: Old English; Origin: moththe] an insect related to the ↑butterfly that flies mainly at night and is attracted to lights. Some moths eat holes in cloth … Dictionary of contemporary English