cat ‧ er ‧ pil ‧ lar /ˈkætəˌpɪlə $ -tərˌpɪlər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Old North French ; Origin: catepelose 'hairy cat, caterpillar' ]
a small creature like a ↑ worm with many legs that eats leaves and that develops into a ↑ butterfly or other flying insect