好词典

caterpillars

UK //ˈkæt.ə.pɪl.ər//US //ˈkæt̬.ɚ.pɪl.ɚ//

词源

源自中古英语 'catirpel',可能来自古法语 'chatepelose'(意为'毛茸茸的猫'),因其外形类似毛茸茸的小动物。

noun

❶ 毛虫,指蝴蝶或蛾的幼虫阶段,身体呈长条形,通常有多对足,以植物叶子为食。

“The children were excited to see colorful caterpillars crawling on the leaves.”

(孩子们兴奋地看着彩色的毛毛虫在叶子上爬行。)

“Caterpillars can eat a large amount of leaves in a short time.”

(毛毛虫可以在短时间内吃掉大量的叶子。)

同义词:larva, worm, grub

常见短语

hungry as a caterpillar — 形容非常饥饿,像毛毛虫一样能吃,常用于幽默或夸张的表达。

“After the hike, I was hungry as a caterpillar and ate three sandwiches.”

(徒步后我饿得像毛毛虫一样,吃了三个三明治。)