Caterpillar is a noun referring to the larval stage of a butterfly or moth, worm-like in appearance and often covered with bristly hairs. It is also used metaphorically to describe a person or thing in an intermediate, developing stage. The term emphasizes transformation and growth, typically associated with change from larva to adult. For non-scientific use, it can describe any long, segmented, caterpillar-like creature or object.
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