Word: molt (verb)

Associations

"Molt" means to shed old feathers, skin, or hair to make way for new growth. It is often used for birds, reptiles, insects, and some mammals.

• Birds molt their feathers once or twice a year to replace old or damaged feathers.
• Snakes molt their skin as they grow bigger.
• Some insects, like cicadas, molt their exoskeleton as they develop. A similar word is "shed," but "shed" is more general and can be used for leaves, skin, or hair falling off naturally. "Molt" is more specific to animals losing feathers, skin, or exoskeleton.

Substitution

Instead of "molt," you can use:

• "shed" – more general, for example, "The dog sheds fur."
• "cast off" – more formal or poetic, for example, "The snake cast off its skin." Using "molt" specifically points to a natural biological process in animals.

Deconstruction

The word "molt" comes from Old English "meltan," meaning "to change, to melt." It is related to the idea of changing or losing an outer layer. The word is short and has no prefix or suffix.

Inquiry

• Can you think of animals you have seen molting or shedding hair or skin?
• Why do you think animals need to molt?
• How is molting important for their survival or health?