rhizoverbBeta
DictionarymoltShedding an outer covering
verb / noun

molt

MOHLT/məʊlt/

The periodic shedding of an animal's outer covering.

The snake molts and leaves its old skin behind.

A realistic snake has shed a complete translucent old skin, fresh intact body beside it.
Etymology
moltLatinto change

Latin mutare means “to change”; here the change concerns an animal's outer covering. The verb first described feathers or hair falling out, then an animal shedding them.

In context

Cell Press1:09
in most bird species wing feathers molt in sequential and include slow gradual and directional renewal of the wing feathers
Sequential Molt in a Feathered Dinosaur / Curr. Biol., July 16, 2020 (Vol. 30, Issue 18)

More examples

  • The crab hides during its molt.
  • Many birds molt after the breeding season.
  • Our lizard molted last week.

Forms

molt · molts · molted · molting

Similar words

shed
Shed can describe losing material without a periodic cycle.
slough
Slough emphasizes casting off dead skin or an outer layer.