water beetle

noun

1. any of various aquatic beetles, as a predaceous diving beetle.

water beetle

noun

1. any of various beetles of the families Dysticidae, Hydrophilidae, etc, that live most of the time in freshwater ponds, rivers, etc See whirligig beetle

Word History and Origins

Origin of water beetle¹

First recorded in 1660–70

Example Sentences

In Colymbetes serricornis, a water-beetle, the male has a serrated clava of four joints.

From Project Gutenberg

Under natural conditions, the caddis worm has its persecutors, the most formidable of whom appears to be the Water beetle.

From Project Gutenberg

The water beetle referred to is the Gyrinus, locally known as mellow bug or apple beetle.

From Project Gutenberg

There is a small fresh-water annelid which practises letisimulation when approached by the giant water-beetle.

From Project Gutenberg

I was only nearly eaten up by the perch; and then there was a duckling after me and a horrid dragon-fly grub and a water-beetle.

From Project Gutenberg