moult
verb(US English molt)
- [intransitive, transitive]
(of a bird or an animal 鸟或兽 to lose feathers or hair before new feathers or hair grow 换羽；蜕毛 The adult birds were already moulting. 成年鸟已经在蜕皮了。 - moult something
The female hornbill moults her beautiful feathers. 雌犀鸟蜕下美丽的羽毛。
- [intransitive] (of feathers or hair)
to fall out before new feathers or hair grow 换羽；蜕毛 The last of his juvenile plumage had moulted. 他最后的雏鸟羽毛已蜕去了。
Word OriginMiddle English moute, from an Old English verb based on Latin mutare ‘to change’. For the intrusive -l-, compare with words such as fault.