1. the large green caterpillar of a hawkmoth, especially the tobacco hornworm or tomato hornworm, characterized by a horn-like projection on its rear end

Examples

• The gardener found several hornworms eating the tomato plants.
• Hornworms can quickly defoliate tobacco crops if left unchecked.
• The green hornworm was nearly invisible against the plant stem.
• She carefully removed the hornworm from her pepper plant.
• Hornworms eventually pupate in the soil and emerge as hawkmoths.
• The distinctive horn at the rear makes hornworms easy to identify.