Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- A class or other large division of invertebrated animals, to which different limits have been assigned.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun plural (Zoöl.) One of the classes of Arthropoda, including those that have one pair of antennæ, three pairs of mouth organs, and breathe air by means of tracheæ, opening by spiracles along the sides of the body. In this sense it includes the Hexapoda, or six-legged insects and the Myriapoda, with numerous legs. See
insect , n. - noun plural (Zoöl.) In a more restricted sense, the Hexapoda alone. See
Hexapoda . - noun plural (Zoöl.) In the most general sense, the Hexapoda, Myriapoda, and Arachnoidea, combined.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun insects; about five-sixths of all known animal species
Etymologies
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Examples
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It is hard to believe that they all belong to the same family called insecta, but they do. "
Little Busybodies The Life of Crickets, Ants, Bees, Beetles, and Other Busybodies Julia Moody 1919
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It is also a typical insect, so that a careful study serves as a basis for a knowledge of the class _insecta_.
Ontario Teachers' Manuals: Nature Study Ontario. Ministry of Education
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A large proportion of the insecta are too light-minded and frivolous to care for smoking.
Here are Ladies James Stephens 1916
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[1] In mentioning some of the Thames _insecta_ I have also noticed some of the _mollusca_ and _crustacea_.
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Bacon uses generally, I know not whether always, ‘insecta’ for
English Past and Present Richard Chenevix Trench 1846
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The more I read about plants the more I get to feel that all phanerogams seem comparable with one class, as lepidoptera, rather than with one kingdom, as the whole insecta.
More Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 2 Charles Darwin 1845
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“The Formes of pure celestiall bodies mixt with grosse terrestrials; earthly animals with watery; sauage beasts with tame; fowles of prey with home-bred; these again with riuer fowles; reptiles with things gressible; aery insecta with earthly; also things naturall with artificiall.”
The Handbook to English Heraldry Charles Boutell 1844
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Hence the difficulties which have embarrassed the naturalists, who adopt the Linnæan classification, in their endeavours to discover determinate characters of distinction between the vermes and the insecta.
Hints towards the formation of a more comprehensive theory of life. Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1803
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The most unique features in the class insecta are wings.
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Tiger moth is usually immaculate. insecta, the moth is divided into three parts; head, thorax, and abdomen antennae which have sensors that allow moth to measure humidity and flight speed.
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