molt

IPA/məʊlt/
KK[mˈolt]IPA/məʊlt/

molt — verb

  • moltpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • moltspresent simple I / you / we / they
  • moltedpast simple
  • molting-ing form

1. When an animal molts, it loses old skin, feathers, hair, or shell so that a new

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

When an animal molts, it loses old skin, feathers, hair, or shell so that a new covering can grow underneath.

例句

Nkechi's parrot molted its bright tail feathers at the end of summer.

transitive: molt + body part (tail feathers)

The snake in Wei's garden molted and left a perfect shed skin behind.

同義詞
  • shed

    broader term; used for plants losing leaves, animals losing fur, and even non-living things

  • slough

    more specific to skin coming away in pieces; common in medical contexts

  • cast off

    more formal and literary; often implies deliberate rejection rather than a natural process

文法句型

molt + something (feathers, skin, shell)

subject + molt (no object)

用法筆記

US spelling; the UK spelling is 'moult.' Used for animals and insects, not for humans. Can be used both with and without an object.

常見錯誤

❌My skin molts after a sunburn.
✅My skin peels after a sunburn.
💡'molt' is used for animals, not for human skin peeling.
❌The snake malted last week.
✅The snake molted last week.
💡'malt' is a grain used in brewing; the shedding word is 'molt.'

molt — noun