moult Meaning & Definition
What Does Moult Mean?
As a noun, moult means The process of shedding or losing a covering of fur, feathers or skin etc. It is also used to mean The skin or feathers cast off during the process of moulting. As a verb, it means To undergo the process of shedding or losing a covering of hair or fur, feathers, skin, horns, etc, and replacing it with a fresh one; to change by moulting. As a verb, it means To shed or lose a covering of hair or fur, feathers, skin, horns, etc, and replace it with a fresh one.
Moult: Key Facts
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /məʊlt/ |
| Synonyms | slough, shed and molt |
| Plural | moults |
| Verb forms | moults, moulting, moulted |
Moult Definition (Noun)
- The process of shedding or losing a covering of fur, feathers or skin etc.
Some birds change colour during their winter moult.
- The skin or feathers cast off during the process of moulting.
Moult as a Verb
- To undergo the process of shedding or losing a covering of hair or fur, feathers, skin, horns, etc, and replacing it with a fresh one; to change by moulting.
Birds moult periodically.
- To shed in such a manner.
Verb
- To shed or lose a covering of hair or fur, feathers, skin, horns, etc, and replace it with a fresh one.
Synonyms of Moult
Moult synonyms and antonyms →Moult in a Sentence
Some birds change colour during their winter moult.
Birds moult periodically.
Word Forms & Grammar
moult (plural moults)
moult (third-person singular simple present moults, present participle moulting, simple past and past participle moulted)
Words That Rhyme With Moult
Origin of Moult
From Middle English mouten, from Old English *mutian (attested in bemutian, “to exchange for”), from Latin mūtō (“to (re)move, change, vary, mutate, exchange, abandon”). Doublet of mute and mutate. The unetymological ⟨l⟩ was introduced into the spelling by mistakenly assuming a French origin with -l- as in fault and vault; compare solder, which in contrast has an etymological ⟨l⟩ (from Latin solidāre, “to make solid“) but was historically pronounced without that grapheme's sound.
Common Questions About Moult
Is moult a noun or a verb?
Moult is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for moult?
You can replace moult with words such as slough, shed and molt. See the full list of moult synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of moult?
The plural of moult is moults.
What is the past tense of moult?
The past tense of moult is moulted. The present participle is moulting.