Adjacent Words

Coleoptera definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: beetles [syn: Coleoptera, order Coleoptera]

Merriam Webster's

noun plural Etymology: New Latin, ultimately from Greek koleon sheath + pteron wing — more at feather Date: 1771 insects that are beetles • coleopterist noun • coleopterous adjective

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Insecta In*sec"ta, n. pl. [NL. See Insect.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) One of the classes of Arthropoda, including those that have one pair of antenn[ae], three pairs of mouth organs, and breathe air by means of trache[ae], opening by spiracles along the sides of the body. In this sense it includes the Hexapoda, or six-legged insects and the Myriapoda, with numerous legs. See Insect, n. 2. (Zo["o]l.) In a more restricted sense, the Hexapoda alone. See Hexapoda. 3. (Zo["o]l.) In the most general sense, the Hexapoda, Myriapoda, and Arachnoidea, combined. Note: The typical Insecta, or hexapod insects, are divided into several orders, viz.: Hymenoptera, as the bees and ants; Diptera, as the common flies and gnats; Aphaniptera, or fleas; Lepidoptera, or moths and butterflies; Neuroptera, as the ant-lions and hellgamite; Coleoptera, or beetles; Hemiptera, as bugs, lice, aphids; Orthoptera, as grasshoppers and cockroaches; Pseudoneuroptera, as the dragon flies and termites; Euplexoptera, or earwings; Thysanura, as the springtails, podura, and lepisma. See these words in the Vocabulary.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Coleoptera Co`le*op"te*ra, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. ? sheath-winged; ? sheath + ? wing.] (Zo["o]l.) An order of insects having the anterior pair of wings (elytra) hard and horny, and serving as coverings for the posterior pair, which are membranous, and folded transversely under the others when not in use. The mouth parts form two pairs of jaws (mandibles and maxill[ae]) adapted for chewing. Most of the Coleoptera are known as beetles and weevils.