: any of a class (Insecta) of arthropods (such as bugs or bees) with well-defined head, thorax, and abdomen, only three pairs of legs, and typically one or two pairs of wings
b
: any of numerous small invertebrate animals (such as spiders or centipedes) that are more or less obviously segmented—not used technically
2
: a trivial or contemptible person
insectadjective
Illustration of insect
1 labial palpus
2 maxillary palpus
3 simple eye
4 antenna
5 compound eye
6 prothorax
7 tympanum
8 wing
9 ovipositor
10 spiracles
11 abdomen
12 metathorax
13 mesothorax
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The bodies of insects have segments, or divisions, so they appear to have a series of notches cut into them. This led the Greek philosopher Aristotle to give insects the name entomon “a thing cut into.” Entomon comes from the prefix en- “in,” combined with the verb temnein “to cut.” Later, when the Romans wanted a word for this kind of creature, they did not simply borrow the Greek word. Instead they translated it with the Latin word insectum, from the verb insecare “to cut into.” Insectum was borrowed into English as insect.
a swarm of flying insects
the magazine's editor in chief was notorious for treating staffers as insects, often not even bothering to learn their names
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Their main food sources are energy-rich liquids, such as the honeydew produced by insects like scale bugs and mealybugs and nectar secreted from specialized glands on plants.—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025 These attract a variety of beneficial insects including parasitoid wasps, lacewings, and syrphid flies, all of which feed on aphids, whiteflies, insects eggs, and other garden pests.—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025 Photos show these brown insects, which blend in with the surrounding sand.—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025 Plus, pairing zinnias with squash and zucchini can attract beneficial insects, like parasitic wasps, ladybugs, and lacewings, to gardens.—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for insect
Word History
Etymology
Latin insectum, from neuter of insectus, past participle of insecare to cut into, from in- + secare to cut — more at saw
: any of numerous small invertebrate animals (as spiders or centipedes) that are more or less obviously made up of segments—not used technically
2
: any of a class of arthropods (as butterflies, true bugs, two-winged flies, bees, and grasshoppers) with the body clearly divided into a head, thorax, and abdomen, with three pairs of jointed legs, and usually with one or two pairs of wings
Etymology
from Latin insectum "insect," derived from insecare "to cut into," from in- "in" and secare "to cut" — related to dissect, section
Word Origin
The bodies of insects have segments, or divisions. Thus they seem to have a series of notches cut into them. This appearance led the Greek philosopher Aristotle to give insects the name entomon "a thing cut into." Entomon comes from the prefix en- "in," combined with the verb temnein "to cut." Later, when the Romans wanted a word for this kind of creature, they did not simply borrow the Greek word. Instead they translated it into the Latin word insectum, from the verb insecare "to cut into." Insectum was borrowed into English as insect.
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