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centipede
noun
cen·ti·pede
ˈsen-tə-ˌpēd
: any of a class (Chilopoda) of long flattened many-segmented predaceous arthropods with each segment bearing one pair of legs of which the foremost pair is modified into poison fangs
Examples of centipede in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Arthropleura displays an odd mix of anatomical details found today in millipedes (order Diplopoda, characterized by having two pairs of jointed legs on most segments and a worm-like body and head) and centipedes (Chilopoda, with only one pair of legs per segment and a flattened body).
—David Bressan, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
Spiders, ticks, centipedes, snakes, salamanders and rodents are among the many creatures that can flourish in leaf piles.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 6 Oct. 2024
One of the most prevalent diseases in warm season grasses such as centipede, zoysia, and St. Augustine is large patch (Rhizoctonia solani).
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 11 Sep. 2024
Described this way, Rejection sounds unbearable, a human centipede of misery crossed with a brain worm becoming an Ouroboros.
—Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Centipede.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/centipede. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
centipede
noun
cen·ti·pede
ˈsent-ə-ˌpēd
: any of a class of long flattened arthropods that have many segments with each segment having one pair of legs except for the first segment which has a pair of poison fangs compare millipede
Etymology
from Latin centipeda "centipede," from centi- "hundred" and -peda, from ped-, pes "foot" — related to pedestrian
Medical Definition
centipede
noun
cen·ti·pede
ˈsent-ə-ˌpēd
: any member of the class Chilopoda of long flattened many-segmented predaceous arthropods with each segment bearing one pair of legs of which the foremost pair is modified into poison fangs
More from Merriam-Webster on centipede
Nglish: Translation of centipede for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about centipede
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