# centipede

/ˈsɛntɪˌpid/ (US) · /sˈɛntɪpˌiːd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/centipede
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

a long, thin creature with many legs that lives in damp places. It has one pair of legs on each body segment and moves in a wave-like pattern.

For teachers: a long, slender arthropod of the class Chilopoda, characterized by a flattened body and one pair of legs per body segment. It is a predatory insect that typically inhabits moist environments.

## Examples

- A centipede crawled across the damp garden path at night.
- While walking through the forest, the hiker accidentally stepped on a centipede that was hiding under a fallen log.
- The centipede, a master of the dark, relies on its numerous legs and venomous jaws to navigate the leaf litter and hunt smaller invertebrates in the humid undergrowth.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.