molt

Compared meaning: an animal naturally losing skin, feathers, or fur (verb).

比较义项：动物自然地脱落外层皮肤、羽毛或毛发（动词）。

• shed

  The most general, everyday word for losing or getting rid of something naturally; applies to skin, hair, leaves, tears, blood or even old habits, not limited to one body part or species.

  最通用、最日常的词，指自然地脱落或去除某物；可以指皮肤、毛发、树叶、眼泪、血液，甚至旧习惯，不局限于某个身体部位或物种。

  Trees shed their leaves every autumn as the weather turns colder.

  每年秋天天气变冷时，树木就会落叶。

• slough

  Narrower than shed: used specifically for a reptile casting off its outer layer of dead skin, often as the phrasal verb slough off; rarely used for hair or feathers.

  比shed范围窄：专指爬行动物蜕去外层死皮，常以slough off的形式出现；很少用于毛发或羽毛。

  Snakes slough off their dry outer skin several times a year.

  蛇每年会好几次蜕去干燥的外层皮肤。

• molt 本词

  Refers to the periodic natural loss of feathers, fur or hair as new growth replaces it, typical of birds and mammals; not normally used for skin or leaves.

  指羽毛、皮毛或毛发周期性自然脱落并长出新的，常见于鸟类和哺乳动物；通常不用于皮肤或树叶。

  Birds molt their feathers each summer before growing a fresh set.

  鸟类每年夏天都会脱落羽毛，之后再长出新的一套。

Shed, slough, and molt all mean losing skin, feathers, or fur. Shed is the general word, for skin or hair. Slough means a reptile casting off skin. Molt means birds or mammals losing feathers or fur. Shed can mean a hut, or shedding light.

这三个词都可以表示动物脱落身体表层的东西，但语气和适用对象不同：shed最通用，凡是皮肤、毛发、树叶、眼泪甚至旧习惯都能用；slough专指爬行动物蜕去旧皮，常与off连用；molt专指鸟类、哺乳动物等周期性脱落羽毛或毛发后长出新的。这里不比较shed作名词表示“小屋”的意思，也不比较它“洒（光）、流（泪、血）”等引申用法。