polypneustic

adjective

pol·​yp·​neus·​tic

¦pälə̇p¦n(y)üstik

of an insect

: having at least three pairs of functional spiracles

Word History

Etymology

poly- + Greek pneustikos of breathing, from (assumed) Greek pneustos (verbal of Greek pnein to breathe) + Greek -ikos -ic

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!