Buprestid definition

byo͝o-prĕstĭd

Any of various often colorful, metallic beetles of the family Buprestidae, many of which are destructive wood borers as larvae.

noun

Any of a family (Buprestidae) of beetles with a long, flat, metallic-colored body: the larvae are harmful to woody plants.

noun

Any of the many beetles of the family Buprestidae, which in the larval stage are destructive wood borers and as adults are often brightly coloured.

noun

Other Word Forms

Singular:

buprestid

Plural:

buprestids

From New Latin Būprēstidae family name from Būprēstis type genus from Latin būprēstis beetle harmful to cattle from Greek bouprēstis bous ox gwou- in Indo-European roots prēthein to swell up

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition