millipede

or mil·le·pede

[ mil-uh-peed ]

noun

1. any terrestrial arthropod of the class Diplopoda, having a cylindrical body composed of 20 to more than 100 segments, each with two pairs of legs.

millipede

/ ˈmɪlɪˌpiːd /

noun

1. any terrestrial herbivorous arthropod of the class Diplopoda, having a cylindrical body made up of many segments, each of which bears two pairs of walking legs See also myriapod

millipede

/ mĭl′ə-pēd′ /

1. Any of various wormlike arthropods of the class Diplopoda, having a long body composed of many narrow segments, most of which have two pairs of legs. Millipedes feed on plants and, unlike centipedes, do not have venomous pincers.
2. Compare centipede

Word History and Origins

Origin of millipede¹

1595–1605; < Latin mīlipeda (Pliny), equivalent to mīli- milli- + -peda, derivative of pēs, stem ped- foot

Word History and Origins

Origin of millipede¹

C17: from Latin, from mille thousand + pēs foot

Example Sentences

Mr Prendini is the curator of the spider, scorpion, centipede and millipede collections at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, according to the museum's website.

From BBC

The museum’s website lists Prendini as the curator of its spider, scorpion, centipede and millipede collections.

From Seattle Times

The shocking pink dragon millipede may not breathe fire, but it releases cyanide.

From National Geographic

Sam Aberdeen showed off a Seychelles giant millipede wrapped around his hand — lucky to be counting only the critter and not its many legs.

From Seattle Times

Today celebrities are often top choices for such monikers—take the millipede named for Taylor Swift, the spider named for Bernie Sanders and the wasp named for Brad Pitt.

From Scientific American