insect

Meaning

  1. An arthropod (in the Insecta class) characterized by six legs, up to four wings, and a chitinous exoskeleton.
  2. (colloquial) Any small arthropod similar to an insect, including spiders, centipedes, millipedes, etc.
  3. A contemptible or powerless person.

Frequency

C1
Pronounced as (IPA)
/ˈɪnsɛkt/
Etymology

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 (“I cut into, I cut up”), from in- + secō (“I 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”).

Bookmark this

Improve your pronunciation

English

Start learning English with learnfeliz.

Practice speaking and memorizing "insect" and many other words and sentences in English.

Go to our English course page

Notes

Sign in to write sticky notes
Continue