mantis
mantis
Definition
man·tis (man′tis)
noun pl. -·tises or -·tes′-tēz′
any of an order (Mantodea) of slender, elongated insects that feed on other insects and grasp their prey with stout, spiny forelegs often held up together as if praying
Etymology: ModL < Gr, prophet, seer, kind of insect < IE base *men-, to think > mind
mantis
Usage Examples
Converse of object
- pray: Praying mantis - Not tonight dear, I've got a headache.
- prey: Still think she should have let the preying mantis have him.
- include: Stars of the show include magnificent mantises, terrific tarantulas, crawling cockroaches and scuttling scorpions!
Modifies a noun
Browse dictionary entries near mantis
- mantilla
- manticore
- -mantic
- mantic
- manteltree
- mantelpiece
- mantelletta
- mantelet
- mantel
- Mantegna
- mantis shrimp
- mantissa
- mantle
- mantle rock
- mantlet
- Mantoux test
- mantra
- mantua
- manual
- manual alphabet
