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Definition of centipede

centipede

/ˈsɛn.tə.piːd/
cen · ti · pede
Plural:centipedes
•
Adjective:centipedal
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centipede Lexical Profile

centipede Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A predatory, terrestrial arthropod of the class Chilopoda, characterized by a long, flattened, segmented body with one pair of legs per segment and venomous fangs used for paralyzing prey.

Example

"The hiker carefully brushed a large, brightly colored centipede off his backpack before it could bite him."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for centipede

Word Nuance & Usage

Frequently confused with the millipede; however, centipedes are distinguished by having only one pair of legs per body segment and are primarily venomous predators.

• Nearby Words

centiliter
centime
centimeter
centipede
centipede eater
central
central african

Word Origin & Etymology

Mid 17th century: from French 'centipède' or Latin 'centipeda', derived from 'centum' (a hundred) and 'pes', 'ped-' (foot).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Centipede. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 10, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/centipede
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