Exuviate: meaning, definitions and examples
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exuviate
[ ɪɡˈzuːviˌeɪt ]
biological process
To exuviate is to undergo the process of shedding or molting an outer layer, typically in relation to arthropods, such as insects or crustaceans. This process allows these creatures to grow and develop, as their exoskeletons do not stretch.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The crab will exuviate its shell to accommodate its growing body.
- After several weeks, the caterpillar will exuviate and transform into a chrysalis.
- Many spiders exuviate in order to expand their size after each growth stage.
Translations
Translations of the word "exuviate" in other languages:
🇵🇹 exuviação
🇮🇳 परिवर्तन
🇩🇪 Häutung
🇮🇩 moulting
🇺🇦 линька
🇵🇱 wylinka
🇯🇵 脱皮 (だっぴ)
🇫🇷 mue
🇪🇸 exuvia
🇹🇷 deri değiştirme
🇰🇷 탈피 (탈피)
🇸🇦 تغيير الجلد
🇨🇿 svlékání
🇸🇰 svliekanie
🇨🇳 蜕皮 (tuìpí)
🇸🇮 luščenje
🇮🇸 húðskipti
🇰🇿 түлеу
🇬🇪 მოლტი
🇦🇿 dəri dəyişdirmə
🇲🇽 exuvia
Etymology
The term 'exuviate' originates from the Latin word 'exuviar', which means 'to take off, to strip off'. The root 'ex-' implies 'out of' or 'from', while 'vīvere' refers to 'to live', suggesting a transition from one state of being to another. The word has primarily been used in biological contexts to describe the shedding of skin or outer layers by various animals, especially those belonging to the arthropod phylum. This phenomenon showcases not only the biological growth processes but also the evolutionary adaptations that these organisms have developed over millions of years. The act of exuviating is crucial for survival and growth in species that possess hard exoskeletons, as it allows them to avoid being constrained by their previous forms.