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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

  • shrimp: Of the 350 known species of mantis shrimps only two are found in British waters.
  • position: Get good size booties, the front of them should be taut from toe to knee when in the mantis position.

Browse dictionary entries near mantis

  1. ‹ mantilla
  2. ‹ manticore
  3. ‹ -mantic
  4. ‹ mantic
  5. ‹ manteltree
  6. ‹ mantelpiece
  7. ‹ mantelletta
  8. ‹ mantelet
  9. ‹ mantel
  10. ‹ Mantegna
  1. mantis shrimp ›
  2. mantissa ›
  3. mantle ›
  4. mantle rock ›
  5. mantlet ›
  6. Mantoux test ›
  7. mantra ›
  8. mantua ›
  9. manual ›
  10. manual alphabet ›