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Glite Dictionary
cinnabar moth

cinnabar moth

8.1
A large European moth with bright red and black wings whose caterpillars eat ragwort
  • noun
  • /ˈsɪnəˌbɑr mɔθ/
  • UK
translation icon : polilla cinabrio
  • Farmers welcomed the introduction of the cinnabar moth to help control invasive ragwort.

Examples

  • The distinctive markings of the cinnabar moth make it easy to spot in meadows and grasslands.

  • We noticed dozens of cinnabar moths fluttering above the wildflowers on our hike.

  • The cinnabar moth is known for its bright red wings.

  • Have you ever seen a cinnabar moth up close?

  • Farmers welcomed the introduction of the cinnabar moth to help control invasive ragwort.

  • The distinctive markings of the cinnabar moth make it easy to spot in meadows and grasslands.

  • We noticed dozens of cinnabar moths fluttering above the wildflowers on our hike.

Synonyms

cinnabar
vscinnabar moth
  • UK
9.9

A red and black moth whose caterpillars eat ragwort leaves

focuses on striking red and black wings instead of listing the formal species name
Callimorpha jacobeae
vscinnabar moth
  • Specialized
9.9

A large red and black European moth whose caterpillars eat the weed ragwort

describes introduction to various other regions rather than one specific country

How Red

cinnabar moth
  • UK
8.1

Surface Forms

cinnabar moth singular
cinnabar moths plural

Morphology

cinnabar + moth

The compound is fully compositional: 'cinnabar' specifies a color/species and 'moth' names the insect, so 'cinnabar moth' straightforwardly denotes a moth that is cinnabar-colored or the species called cinnabar. This noun–noun modifier + head pattern is common in English and cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Cinnabar moth is named after the bright red pigment cinnabar. People thought the moth's bright red and black wings looked like that 'red pigment', so cinnabar moth came to mean the 'red-and-black' moth.