centipede

noun cen·ti·pede \ˈsen-tə-ˌpēd\

: a small creature that is like an insect and that has a long, thin body and many legs

Full Definition of CENTIPEDE

: 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

See centipede defined for English-language learners

See centipede defined for kids

Illustration of CENTIPEDE

Origin of CENTIPEDE

Latin centipeda, from centi- + ped-, pes foot — more at foot

First Known Use: 1601

Other Insect Terms

drone, entomology, gadfly, pismire, proboscis, vespine

Rhymes with CENTIPEDE

aniseed, antecede, beating reed, beggarweed, bitterweed, bottle-feed, bugleweed, butterweed, carpetweed, chicken feed, copyread, cottonseed, cottonweed, crazyweed, double reed, Ganymede, giant reed, go to seed, interbreed, intercede, interplead, jewelweed, jimsonweed, locoweed, millipede, Nicene Creed, overfeed, pedigreed, pickerelweed, poppy seed, Port Said, pumpkinseed, quitclaim deed, retrocede, rosinweed, Runnymede, silverweed, supersede, thimbleweed, title deed, tumbleweed, underfeed, up to speed, waterweed

CENTIPEDE Defined for Kids

centipede

noun cen·ti·pede \ˈsen-tə-ˌpēd\

Definition of CENTIPEDE for Kids

: an animal that is an arthropod with a long somewhat flattened body with one pair of legs on most of its many body sections

Medical Dictionary

centipede

noun cen·ti·pede \ˈsent-ə-ˌpēd\

Medical Definition of CENTIPEDE

: 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