What does molted mean?
“Molted” is the past tense and past participle of “molt,” a verb meaning to shed an old outer covering and replace it with a new one. The process is especially familiar in snakes, which may leave behind an entire layer of skin, and in birds, which periodically lose and regrow their feathers. Insects and other arthropods molt their rigid exoskeletons so that they can grow. The word can also be used more broadly for shedding or discarding something associated with an earlier stage of development. Its American spelling is “molt”; British English generally uses “moult.” Because “molted” specifically describes an action or a completed result, it often appears in descriptions of animal biology, natural history, and unusual transformations involving skin, hair, or feathers.
verbTo shed or replace an outer layer, especially old skin, feathers, hair, or an exoskeleton, in order to grow a new one. “Molted” is the past tense and past participle of “molt.”
- To shed and replace an outer layer, such as skin, feathers, hair, or an exoskeleton.
- To cast off an old outer covering as part of growth or development.
"The snake molted its old skin and emerged with a brighter pattern."
"The caterpillar molted several times before forming a chrysalis."
"A bird may molt its feathers gradually over several weeks."
A snake’s dramatic new look begins with an old skin being left behind.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does molted come from?
The verb comes through Old French from Latin mutare, meaning “to change,” with the development of the sense “to shed an outer covering” occurring in the Middle English period. It is related to “molten” and “mutation,” which also reflect the idea of change. The alternative British spelling “moult” preserves a form influenced by the older French pronunciation.
Related word forms
How molted is actually used
The word is most often used of animals and arthropods, but it can also describe a person or object undergoing a conspicuous change. In British English, the usual spelling is “moult”; “molt” is the usual American spelling.
Easily confused with molted
“Moult” is the traditional British spelling of the verb, while “molt” is the standard American spelling and is also widely used in technical and scientific contexts.
“Molten” means melted or liquefied by heat, whereas “molt” means to shed an outer layer such as skin, feathers, or a shell.