Insect

Quick meaning: Insect is a noun meaning An arthropod (in the Insecta class) characterized by six legs, up to four wings, and a chitinous exoskeleton.

Meaning

An arthropod (in the Insecta class) characterized by six legs, up to four wings, and a chitinous exoskeleton.

More Meanings

1. (derogatory) A contemptible or powerless person.
2. (archaic or loosely) Any small arthropod similar to an insect, including spiders, centipedes, millipedes, etc.

Example Sentences

The swamp is swarming with every sort of insect.

The manager’s assistant was the worst sort of insect.

Our shed has several insect infestions, including ants, yellowjackets, and wasps.

Nonetheless, some insect prey take advantage of clutter by hiding in it. Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close (less than half a meter) above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from the leaves and stems around them.

Word Forms

• insects

Synonyms for insect

Depending on context, synonyms include bug, louse, worm.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include louse, worm, bug, entomology, mosquito, beetle.

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