insect
Plural: insects
Noun
- A small, six-legged arthropod with a segmented body.
- small air-breathing arthropod
- a person who has a nasty or unethical character undeserving of respect
- An arthropod (in the Insecta class) characterized by six legs, up to four wings, and a chitinous exoskeleton.
- Any small arthropod similar to an insect, including spiders, centipedes, millipedes, etc.
- A contemptible or powerless person.
Examples
- He felt like a tiny insect, crawling across the vast Scrabble board.
- Our shed has several insect infestions, including ants, yellowjackets, and wasps.
- The manager’s assistant was the worst sort of insect.
- The swamp is swarming with every sort of insect.
Origin / Etymology
From Middle French insecte, from Latin īnsectum, from īnsectus (“cut into, cut up, with a notched or divided body”), from perfect passive participle of īnsecō (“I cut into, I cut up”), from in- + secō (“I cut”), from the notion that the insect's body is "cut into" three sections (head, thorax, abdomen). Calque of Ancient Greek ἔντομον (éntomon, “insect”), from ἔντομος (éntomos, “cut into pieces”).
Scrabble Score: 8
insect: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordinsect: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
insect: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary
Words With Friends Score: 10
insect: valid Words With Friends Word