Dictionary Home »
Webster's New World College Dictionary » hymenopteran
hymenopteran
hymenopteran definition
hy·me·nop·teran (hī′mə näp′tər ən)
noun
any of a large, highly specialized order (Hymenoptera) of insects, including wasps, bees, and ants, having complete metamorphosis and often living in social colonies: the insect has a biting or sucking mouth and, when winged, four membranous wings
Etymology: < ModL < Gr hymenopteros, membrane-winged < hymēn, membrane (see hymen) + pteron, a wing (see ptero-) + -an
adjective
of or belonging to the hymenopterans
also hymenopterous hy′·menop′·ter·ous
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Comments
Improve this definition.
Browse dictionary definitions near hymenopteran
Share on Facebook