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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

moth

/mɔθ/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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What does moth mean?

noun

  1. Any flying insect of the order Lepidoptera not in the superfamily Papilionoidea, most species of which are nocturnal and can be distinguished from butterflies by feather-like antennae.
  2. (figuratively) Anything that gradually and silently eats, consumes, or wastes any other thing.

verb

  1. To hunt for moths.
More meanings (4)

noun

  1. A moth bean plant (Vigna aconitifolia).
  2. (slang) A girlfriend.
  3. (obsolete) Obsolete form of mote.
  4. (dated) A liver spot, especially an irregular or feathery one.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/mɔθ/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Other dictionary pronunciations

/moʊt/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

The moth made towards the candle upon Eustacia’s table, hovered round it two or three times, and flew into the flame.
Thomas HardyThe Return of the NativeProject Gutenberg ebook #122
Let us first suppose the usual case, that of an average head of game, a Moth or Fly of some sort.
Jean-Henri FabreThe Life of the SpiderTranslated by Alexander Teixeira de MattosProject Gutenberg ebook #1887
More book examples (3)
The moth hesitated at the first light, then slowly, easily it came toward the second, as if following a path of air.
Gene Stratton-PorterA Girl of the LimberlostProject Gutenberg ebook #125
And all they who shall condemn me, behold, all they shall wax old as a garment, and the moth shall eat them up.
Joseph, Jr. Smith; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsThe Book of Mormon : $b an account written by the hand of Mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of NephiProject Gutenberg ebook #17
How greatly instincts may change, that is to say, may be adapted, is shown by the case of the Noctuid "shark" moth, Xylina vetusta.
A. C. (Albert Charles) SewardDarwin and Modern ScienceProject Gutenberg ebook #1909