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moult

British  
/ məʊlt /

verb

  1. (of birds, mammals, reptiles, and arthropods) to shed (feathers, hair, skin, or cuticle)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the periodic process of moulting See also ecdysis

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • moulter noun

Etymology

Origin of moult

C14 mouten, from Old English mūtian, as in bimūtian to exchange for, from Latin mūtāre to change

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She added that the crabs absorb extra water from around them, so their hard skeleton is bigger than they actually need as this allows for extra growing time before they moult again.

From BBC • Jul. 25, 2022

Sea ice is also important for resting, during their annual moult and to escape from predators.

From Salon • Aug. 8, 2021

Thus, it makes sense that we moult depending on the temperature: hold onto our hair more tightly during the winter months and lose it in the summer.

From Washington Times • Jan. 20, 2016

Heeled boots, studded with glitter, have begun to moult in the autumn damp; wherever Adele settles around the room she leaves behind traces of sparkle.

From The Guardian • Nov. 15, 2015

The jerfalcon which had been given to Lancelot was not property through her moult Like Hamlet she was fat and scant of breath.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White