moult

verb

/məʊlt/

(US English molt)

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they moult	/məʊlt/ /məʊlt/
he / she / it moults	/məʊlts/ /məʊlts/
past simple moulted	/ˈməʊltɪd/ /ˈməʊltɪd/
past participle moulted	/ˈməʊltɪd/ /ˈməʊltɪd/
-ing form moulting	/ˈməʊltɪŋ/ /ˈməʊltɪŋ/

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[intransitive, transitive] (of a bird or an animal) to lose feathers or hair before new feathers or hair grow
- The adult birds were already moulting.
- moult something The female hornbill moults her beautiful feathers.
Topics Animalsc2
[intransitive] (of feathers or hair) to fall out before new feathers or hair grow
- The last of his juvenile plumage had moulted.

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.

noun

/məʊlt/

(US English molt)

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a loss of feathers or hair, especially as a regular feature of the life cycle of a bird or an animal
- The birds undergo a complete moult after breeding.
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.