insect

English

Etymology

From Middle French insecte, from Latin insectum (“with a notched or divided body, cut up”), from perfect passive participle of insecō (“I cut up”), from in- + secō (“I cut”), from the notion that the insect's body is "cut into" three sections. Calque of Ancient Greek ἔντομον (éntomon, “insect”), from ἔντομος (éntomos, “cut into pieces”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈɪnsɛkt/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛkt

Noun

insect (plural insects)

  1. An arthropod in the class Insecta, characterized by six legs, up to four wings, and a chitinous exoskeleton.
    • 2013 May-June, William E. Conner, “An Acoustic Arms Race”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, page 206-7:
      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.
    Our shed has several insect infestions, including ants, yellowjackets, and wasps.
  2. (colloquial) Any small arthropod similar to an insect including spiders, centipedes, millipedes, etc
    The swamp is swarming with every sort of insect.
  3. (derogatory) A contemptible or powerless person.
    The manager’s assistant was the worst sort of insect.

Synonyms
  • bug (Colloquial 1,2)


Translations

See also

Further reading

Anagrams

Dutch

Alternative forms

Etymology

Originally having a wider meaning (sense 2), as in Aristotle. From Latin īnsectum (“bug; cut up”), from īnsecō (“I cut up into”). The Latin is a calque of Ancient Greek ἔντομον (éntomon, “bug”), from ἔντομος (éntomos).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ɪnˈsɛkt/
  • Audio(file)
  • Hyphenation: in‧sect
  • Rhymes: -ɛkt

Noun

insect n (plural insecten, diminutive insectje n)

  1. insect, arthropod of the class Insecta.
    Synonyms: gekorven dier, kerfdier
  2. (now uncommon) bug (any small arthropod or invertebrate that somewhat resembles an insect)
    Synonym: gekorven dier
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