Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • The bats; an order of ineducabilian placental mammals, having the fore limbs modified for true flight by the enormous development of the manus or hand, upon the elongated and divaricated metacarpal and phalangeal bones of which a wing-membrane is spread out and connected with the sides of the body and with the hind limbs.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun plural (Zoöl.), archaic an ancient order of mammalia dating to the early Eocene, including the bats. They are nocturnal mouselike mammals having four toes of each of the anterior limbs elongated and connected by a web, so that they form membranous wings that can be used in flying. They also have anatomical adaptations, including large ears, for echolocation, by which they navigate and in some cases find insects. The order includes the suborders Megachiroptera (the fruit bats) and Microchiroptera (insectivorous bats). See bat. Previously spelled cheiroptera.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an old order dating to early Eocene: bats: suborder Megachiroptera (fruit bats); suborder Microchiroptera (insectivorous bats)

Etymologies

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Examples

  • I think you mean pro-fetus Alex because soon as they are born and inhale on their own the pseudo compassion flees as a chiroptera from dawns light.

    Think Progress » Rick Perry to Bush: ‘There is no way to tell how many lives were protected by your fearless pro-life efforts.’ 2010

  • (Outside the main gate, fter the game, one of the Knights nearly stepped on two bats-like, the flying kind, as in chiroptera -)

    Independent Weekly 2010

  • But, there is a big difference: chiroptera toasterhead Says: bitblt Says:

    Think Progress 2009

  • I think that President Obama should direct some of the Stimulus money towards building new mental hospitals to house them all once they finally go around the bend. chiroptera toasterhead Says

    Think Progress 2009

  • Me thinks you've missed the point … Sharia law will usually be enforced above modern law …. that's not the case in the US. chiroptera toasterhead Says: aksarben60 Says:

    Think Progress 2009

  • Like Resurrection is an analogy for spring. chiroptera toasterhead Says: aksarben60 Says:

    Think Progress 2009

  • The more he comes up with his crazy conspiracy theories, the crazier he sounds. chiroptera toasterhead Says: Ooo!

    Think Progress 2009

  • These overt lies exhibit a reckless disregard for the truth. chiroptera toasterhead Says: misscoleopteramolly Says:

    Think Progress 2009

  • And a decoder ring too!!! chiroptera toasterhead Says: misscoleopteramolly Says:

    Think Progress 2009

  • "It was just a 'Hey, we're going to be in town' call." chiroptera toasterhead Says:

    Center for American Progress Action Fund 2009

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