terebra

noun

tere·​bra

təˈrēbrə,

ˈterəb-

1

plural terebras

-brəz

or terebrae

-ē(ˌ)brē;

-ə(ˌ)brē,

-əˌbrī

: a device used by the ancient Romans for starting a breach in a fortified wall

2

[New Latin, from Latin, borer]

a

plural -s : the boring ovipositor of a hymenopterous insect

b

capitalized : a genus of marine gastropods (suborder Stenoglossa) having a long tapering spire and being the type of a family Terebridae comprising the auger shells

c

-s : auger shell

terebral

təˈrēbrəl

ˈterəb-

adjective

Word History

Etymology

Latin, borer, gimlet, from terere to rub, grind + -bra, suffix denoting an instrument

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