Link Centre Dictionary

insect

in·sect

UK/ˈɪn.sɛkt/ US/ˈɪˌnsɛkt/ fairly common

noun

1.
2.

Origin

Borrowed from Middle French insecte, from Latin īnsectum, from īnsectus (“cut into, cut up, with a notched or divided body”), from perfect passive participle of īnsecō (“to cut into, to cut up”), from in- + secō (“to cut”), from the notion that the insect's body is "cut into" three sections (head, thorax, abdomen). Calque of Ancient Greek ἔντομον (éntomon, “insect”), from ἔντομος (éntomos, “cut into pieces”).

Phrases

  • angel insect
  • beneficial insect
  • coral insect
  • fig insect
  • ghost insect
  • insect hotel
  • insect house
  • insect powder

Related words

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Broader terms

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Parts

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.