Caterpillar

UK:^*^*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations'caterpillar', 'Caterpillar': /ˈkætəˌpɪlə/

US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈkætəˌpɪlɚ, ˈkætɚ-/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(kat′ə pil′ər, kat′ər-)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Caterpillar /ˈkætəˌpɪlə/ n trademark

an endless track, driven by sprockets or wheels, used to propel a heavy vehicle and enable it to cross soft or uneven ground
a vehicle, such as a tractor, tank, bulldozer, etc, driven by such tracks

cat•er•pil•lar /ˈkætəˌpɪlɚ, ˈkætɚ-/USA pronunciation n. [countable]

Insectsa small wormlike animal with a long body separated in parts, several pairs of legs, and biting mouthparts, eventually becoming a butterfly or moth.

cat•er•pil•lar¹ (kat′ə pil′ər, kat′ər-),USA pronunciation n.

1400–50; late Middle English catyrpel, probably alteration of an Old North French variant of Old French chatepelose, equivalent. to chate cat¹ + pelose hairy (

Cat•er•pil•lar¹ (kat′ə pil′ər, kat′ər-),USA pronunciation [Trademark.]

a tractor intended for rough terrain, propelled by two endless belts or tracks that pass over a number of wheels.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

caterpillar /ˈkætəˌpɪlə/ n

the wormlike larva of butterflies and moths, having numerous pairs of legs and powerful biting jaws. It may be brightly coloured, hairy, or spiny

Etymology: 15th Century catyrpel, probably from Old Northern French catepelose, literally: hairy cat

'Caterpillar' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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