insect

in-sect · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A small invertebrate animal with six legs, a three-part body (head, thorax, abdomen), and typically one or two pairs of wings.

  2. 2.

    (informal) Any small crawling creature, including spiders, centipedes, and similar arthropods.

  3. 3.

    (figurative, derogatory) A person regarded as contemptible or insignificant.

Forms

plural: insects

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    insect repellent — a substance used to deter insects
  • •
    social insects — insects that live in organized colonies (bees, ants, termites)

Related words

See also: ant, bee, bug
Synonyms: bug, creepy-crawly

Etymology

From Latin insectum ("with a notched or divided body"), a calque of Greek entomon ("cut up, segmented"), from en- ("in") + temnein ("to cut"). The name refers to the segmented body structure of insects.