adjective
moley
Moley (adjective) means Covered in, relating to, or like the small burrowing animal called a mole. Example: “The old lawn was moley, pocked with little raised tunnels everywhere.”
adjective
1
Covered in, relating to, or like the small burrowing animal called a mole.
"The old lawn was moley, pocked with little raised tunnels everywhere."
"A moley patch of ground like that usually means you have visitors underground."
2
Having a lot of moles (small dark skin marks) on the skin.
"He joked that his moley back looked like a star chart."
"Doctors keep a closer eye on very moley skin in case any spot changes."
How to use moley
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFull of moles — either the little skin spots or the tunnelling animal's molehills.
Common mistake
It's an informal, almost jokey word, not a term you'll see in a medical report — doctors say "multiple naevi" instead.
Common pairings
a moley lawn
moley skin
moley back
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Word forms
- Plural
- moleys
- Comparative
- more moley
- Superlative
- most moley
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old lawn was _____, pocked with little raised tunnels everywhere.
Etymology
Simply mole (the burrowing animal, or the skin mark) with the adjective ending -y added, the same pattern as in "holey" or "stony".
Rhymes for moley
See all rhymes for moley →Frequently asked questions
What does “moley” mean?
The word “moley” means covered in, relating to, or like the small burrowing animal called a mole. In plain terms, full of moles — either the little skin spots or the tunnelling animal's molehills.
How do you use “moley” in a sentence?
Here is “moley” used in a sentence: “The old lawn was moley, pocked with little raised tunnels everywhere.”
What part of speech is “moley”?
“Moley” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “moley” have?
“Moley” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: covered in, relating to, or like the small burrowing animal called a mole.
