beetle

¹

[ beet-l ]

noun

1. any of numerous insects of the order Coleoptera, characterized by hard, horny forewings that cover and protect the membranous flight wings.
2. (loosely) any of various insects resembling the beetle, as a cockroach.

verb (used without object)

, bee·tled, bee·tling.

1. Chiefly British. to move quickly; scurry:

   He beetled off to catch the train.

beetle

²

[ beet-l ]

noun

1. a heavy hammering or ramming instrument, usually of wood, used to drive wedges, force down paving stones, compress loose earth, etc.
2. any of various wooden instruments for beating linen, mashing potatoes, etc.

verb (used with object)

, bee·tled, bee·tling.

1. to use a beetle on; drive, ram, beat, or crush with a beetle.
2. to finish (cloth) with a beetling machine.

beetle

³

[ beet-l ]

adjective

1. projecting; overhanging:

   beetle brows.

verb (used without object)

, bee·tled, bee·tling.

1. to project; jut out; overhang:

   a cliff that beetles over the sea; his mustache and beetling brows; thick eyebrows beetling over blue eyes.

2. to hang or tower over in a threatening or menacing manner:

   The prospect of bankruptcy beetled over him.

beetle

¹

/ ˈbiːtəl /

noun

1. any insect of the order Coleoptera , having biting mouthparts and forewings modified to form shell-like protective elytra coleopteran
2. a game played with dice in which the players draw or assemble a beetle-shaped form

verb

1. informal.
   to scuttle or scurry; hurry

beetle

²

/ ˈbiːtəl /

verb

1. intr to overhang; jut

adjective

1. overhanging; prominent

beetle

³

/ ˈbiːtəl /

noun

1. a heavy hand tool, usually made of wood, used for ramming, pounding, or beating
2. a machine used to finish cloth by stamping it with wooden hammers

verb

1. to beat or pound with a beetle
2. to finish (cloth) by means of a beetle

Derived Forms

• ˈbeetling, adjective

Other Words From

• beetler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of beetle¹

First recorded before 900; late Middle English bit(t)il, betylle, bityl, Old English bitel(a), betl, derivative of bītan bite

Origin of beetle²

First recorded before 900; Middle English betel, bitille “mallet, hammer,” Old English bītel, bētel, bȳtel (cognate with Middle Low German bētel “chisel”), derivative of bē(a)tan beat

Origin of beetle³

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; back formation from beetle-browed none

Word History and Origins

Origin of beetle¹

Old English bitela ; related to bitol teeth, bit , bītan to bite

Origin of beetle²

C14: perhaps related to beetle ¹

Origin of beetle³

Old English bīetel , from bēatan to beat ; related to Middle Low German bētel chisel, Old Norse beytill penis

Example Sentences

Desert beetles and lizards, for example, have evolved to develop surface structures that have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas and effectively capture moisture from the air.

From Science Daily

Other areas of the plant were also riddled with bugs, including what appeared to be “ants traveling down the wall” along with a beetle and a cockroach, inspectors said.

From Salon

Also, the flower gets pollinated by the insects attracted to its rotten smell, “typically sweat bees, flesh flies and carrion beetles who enjoy the pungent odor,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Ever the stewards, just as they’d discussed with Frank on day one, the Martinezes have had three arborists treat the maples for bark beetles and bacteria in the soil.

From Los Angeles Times

Perhaps more significantly, it will represent a serious threat to ecosystems that are already fragile because of rising temperatures and outbreaks of the mountain pine beetle.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ant
• aphid
• bee
• butterfly
• cockroach
• dragonfly
• flea
• fruit fly
• gnat
• grasshopper
• ladybug
• mite
• mosquito
• moth
• pest
• spider
• termite
• tick