geometrid

[ jee-om-i-trid ]

adjective

1. belonging or relating to the family Geometridae, comprising slender-bodied, broad-winged moths, the larvae of which are called inchworms:

   In one lowland rainforest, they recorded more than 400 geometrid species.

noun

1. Also geometrid moth. any moth of the family Geometridae, comprising slender-bodied, broad-winged moths, the larvae of which are called inchworms, including cankerworms and hemlock loopers.

geometrid

/ dʒɪˈɒmɪtrɪd /

noun

1. any moth of the family Geometridae, the larvae of which are called measuring worms, inchworms, or loopers

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Geometridae

Word History and Origins

Origin of geometrid¹

First recorded in 1860–65; from New Latin Geometridae, from Geometr(a), a genus name ( geometer; so called because the larva seems to measure the ground with its looping motion) + -idae -id ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of geometrid¹

C19: from New Latin Geōmetridae, from Latin, from Greek geometrēs: land measurer, from the looping gait of the larvae

Example Sentences

Rivulet, riv′ū-let, n. a small stream, brook: a geometrid moth.

From Project Gutenberg

Among the Lepidoptera, we notice a reduction in the number of pro-legs in the 'looper' caterpillars of Geometrid moths.

From Project Gutenberg

Geometrid: larva which, when walking, alternately elevate and straighten the middle of their body: opposed to rectigrade; q.v.

From Project Gutenberg

The Desmoscolecida move by looping their bodies like geometrid caterpillars or leeches, as well as by creeping on their setae.

From Project Gutenberg

By some systematists this small group of moths is treated as a subfamily of the Geometrid.

From Project Gutenberg