Mecoptera

plural noun

Me·​cop·​tera
məˈkäptərə
: an order of primitive carnivorous insects usually having membranous heavily veined wings, a long beak with biting mouthparts at the tip, and larvae that live in soil and including the scorpion flies and hanging flies
mecopteran
-tərən
noun
plural -s
mecopterous
-t(ə)rəs
adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from mec- + -ptera

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Dictionary Entries Near Mecoptera

Cite this Entry

“Mecoptera.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mecoptera. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

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