Insect — In sect, a. 1. Of or pertaining to an insect or insects. [1913 Webster] 2. Like an insect; small; mean; ephemeral. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
insect — (n.) c.1600, from L. (animal) insectum (animal) with a notched or divided body, lit. cut into, from neuter pp. of insectare to cut into, to cut up, from in into (see IN (Cf. in ) (2)) + secare to cut (see SECTION (Cf. section)). Pliny s loan… … Etymology dictionary
Insect — In sect ([i^]n s[e^]kt), n. [F. insecte, L. insectum, fr. insectus, p. p. of insecare to cut in. See {Section}. The name was originally given to certain small animals, whose bodies appear cut in, or almost divided. Cf. {Entomology}.] 1. (Zo[… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
insect — [n] bug ant, aphid, bedbug, bee, beetle, bumblebee, butterfly, cockroach, cootie, daddy longlegs, dragonfly, flea, fly, fruit fly, gnat, grasshopper, hornet, ladybug, louse, mite, mosquito, moth, pest, praying mantis, termite, tick, vermin,… … New thesaurus
insect — ► NOUN ▪ a small invertebrate animal with a head, thorax, and abdomen, six legs, two antennae, and usually one or two pairs of wings. ORIGIN from Latin animal insectum segmented animal , from insecare cut up or into … English terms dictionary
insect — [in′sekt΄] n. [< L insectum (animale), lit., notched (animal), neut. of pp. of insecare, to cut into < in , in + secare, to cut (see SAW2): from the segmented bodies: cf. ENTOMO ] 1. any of a large class (Insecta) of small arthropod animals … English World dictionary
Insect — For the Breed 77 album, see Insects (album). Insect Temporal range: 396–0 Ma … Wikipedia
insect — insectival /in sek tuy veuhl/, adj. /in sekt/, n. 1. any animal of the class Insecta, comprising small, air breathing arthropods having the body divided into three parts (head, thorax, and abdomen), and having three pairs of legs and usually two… … Universalium
insect — noun a) An arthropod in the class Insecta, characterized by six legs, up to four wings, and a chitinous exoskeleton. Our shed has several insect infestions, including ants, yellowjackets, and wasps. b) Any small arthropod similar to an insect… … Wiktionary
insect — in•sect [[t]ˈɪn sɛkt[/t]] n. 1) ent any animal of the class Insecta, comprising small, air breathing arthropods having the body divided into three parts (head, thorax, and abdomen), and having two antennae, three pairs of legs, and usu. two pairs … From formal English to slang
