[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/moult/)

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# moult

verb (moult, moults, moulted, moulting) — US spelling: molt; noun (a moult)

«moult» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (of a bird, animal or insect) To lose feathers, fur, hair or skin so that new ones can grow. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/moult/#m1)
2. Noun: the time or act of moulting. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/moult/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science lessons about life cycles: birds moult feathers, dogs moult hair, snakes shed skin, and insects and crabs moult their hard outer skeleton to grow bigger. Pet owners notice moulting when there is fur everywhere.

### Examples

- Our dog moults every spring. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/moult/#x1)
- The chicken is moulting, so she has fewer feathers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/moult/#x2)
- A caterpillar moults several times before it makes a chrysalis. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/moult/#x3)
- Crabs moult their shells to grow. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/moult/#x4)
- There was cat hair all over the sofa during the moult. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/moult/#x5)
- Snakes moult their whole skin at once. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/moult/#x6)

### Note

UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ: moult; US: molt. Canada uses both. A moulting animal is usually not ill — it is normal. Close word: shed.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «moult» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/moult/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«moult» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/moult.html) on Mova free.