insect

noun in·sect \ˈin-ˌsekt\

: a small animal that has six legs and a body formed of three parts and that may have wings

: an animal (such as a spider) that is similar to an insect

Full Definition of INSECT

a : any of numerous small invertebrate animals (as spiders or centipedes) that are more or less obviously segmented —not used technically

b : any of a class (Insecta) of arthropods (as bugs or bees) with well-defined head, thorax, and abdomen, only three pairs of legs, and typically one or two pairs of wings

: a trivial or contemptible person

— insect adjective

See insect defined for English-language learners

See insect defined for kids

Illustration of INSECT

Origin of INSECT

Latin insectum, from neuter of insectus, past participle of insecare to cut into, from in- + secare to cut — more at saw

First Known Use: 1601

Related to INSECT

Synonyms: cipher, dwarf, half-pint, nobody, insignificancy, lightweight, morsel, nonentity, nothing, nullity, number, pip-squeak, pygmy (also pigmy), shrimp, snippersnapper, twerp, whippersnapper, zero, zilch

Antonyms: big shot, big wheel, bigwig, eminence, figure, kahuna, kingpin, magnate, nabob, personage, somebody, VIP

Rhymes with INSECT

abject, advect, affect, aspect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, defect, deflect, deject, detect, direct, Dordrecht, effect, eject, elect, erect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, inspect, neglect, object, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, prospect, protect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, respect, ring-necked, roll-necked, select, stiff-necked, subject, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked

INSECT Defined for Kids

insect

noun in·sect \ˈin-ˌsekt\

Definition of INSECT for Kids

: any of a group of small and often winged animals that are arthropods having six jointed legs and a body formed of a head, thorax, and abdomen <Flies, bees, and lice are true insects.>

: an animal (as a spider or a centipede) similar to the true insects Hint:This meaning is not scientifically accurate but may be encountered in common everyday use.

Word History of INSECT

The distinct parts into which insects’ bodies are divided—head, thorax, and abdomen—inspired the Greek name used for them by the philosopher Aristotle: entomon, the “notched” or “segmented” animal. (Entomon is a noun derived from the verb entemnein, “to cut up” or “to cut into.”) The Romans used insectum, a literal translation of Greek entomon, as their name for the creatures, and this Latin word has provided us with the ordinary English word for insects.

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