cankerworm — ☆ cankerworm [kaŋ′kərwʉrm΄] n. any of several larvae of geometrid moths that are harmful to fruit and shade trees, esp. the spring cankerworm (Paleacrita vernata) that feeds on fruit and foliage … English World dictionary
Cankerworm — Can ker*worm , n. (Zo[ o]l.) The larva of two species of geometrid moths which are very injurious to fruit and shade trees by eating, and often entirely destroying, the foliage. Other similar larv[ae] are also called cankerworms. [1913 Webster]… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
cankerworm — noun green caterpillar of a geometrid moth; pest of various fruit and shade trees • Hypernyms: ↑caterpillar • Hyponyms: ↑spring cankerworm, ↑fall cankerworm • Member Holonyms: ↑Geometridae, ↑family Geometridae … Useful english dictionary
cankerworm — Dropworm Drop worm (dr[o^]p w[^u]rm ), n. (Zo[ o]l.) The larva of any geometrid moth, which drops from trees by means of a thread of silk, as the {cankerworm} or {inchworm}. See {inchworm} and {geometrid}. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
cankerworm — Caterpillar Cat er*pil lar, n. [OE. catyrpel, corrupted fr. OF. chatepelouse, or cate pelue, fr. chate, F. chatte, she cat, fem. of chat, L. catus + L. pilosus hairy, or F. pelu hairy, fr. L. pilus hair. See {Cat}, and {Pile} hair.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Cankerworm — (Heb. yelek), the licking locust, which licks up the grass of the field; probably the locust at a certain stage of its growth, just as it emerges from the caterpillar state (Joel 1:4; 2:25). The word is rendered caterpillar in Ps. 105:34; Jer … Easton's Bible Dictionary
cankerworm — noun Date: 1530 either of two geometrid moths (Alsophila pometaria and Paleacrita vernata) and especially their larvae which are serious pests of fruit and shade trees … New Collegiate Dictionary
cankerworm — noun Either of two caterpillars, the larvae of geometrid moths, that are destructive to fruit, buds and leaves … Wiktionary
cankerworm — n. type of caterpillar; trouble, adversity … English contemporary dictionary
cankerworm — noun the caterpillar of a North American moth that feeds on the buds and leaves of trees … English new terms dictionary