Insect definition
An ant is an example of an insect.
The swamp is swarming with every sort of insect.
Other Word Forms
Noun
Origin of insect
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From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- From Middle French insecte, from Latin insectum (“with a notched or divided body, cut up”), from perfect passive partciple of insecō (“I cut up”), from in- + secō (“I cut”), from the notion that the insect's body is "cut into" three sections. Calque of Ancient Greek ἔντομον (entomon, “insect”), from ἔντομος (entomos, “cut into pieces”).
From Wiktionary