coleopteran

[ koh-lee-op-ter-uhn, kol-ee- ]

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the order Coleoptera.

noun

1. a beetle.

coleopteran

/ ˌkɒlɪˈɒptərən /

noun

1. any of the insects of the cosmopolitan order Coleoptera, in which the forewings are modified to form shell-like protective elytra. The order includes the beetles and weevils

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the order Coleoptera

coleopteran

/ kō′lē-ŏp′tər-ən,kŏl′ē- /

1. Any of numerous insects of the order Coleoptera, characterized by forewings modified to form tough protective covers for the membranous hind wings. Coleopterans include the beetles, weevils, and fireflies.

Word History and Origins

Origin of coleopteran¹

First recorded in 1840–50; Coleopter(a) + -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of coleopteran¹

C18: from New Latin Coleoptera, from Greek koleoptera, from koleopteros sheath-winged, from koleon sheath + pteron wing

Example Sentences

Having spent years becoming increasingly specialized, once in a while we need to rise above such technical issues as solving stochastic differential equations or measuring coleopteran wings.

From Nature

When they first appeared, they were one of ten coleopteran suborders.

From Economist

"A coleopteran struck me in the eye—one of the hydrophilidae family!"

From Project Gutenberg

"A coleopteran!" he shrieked excitedly as I throttled down.

From Project Gutenberg

The following list includes both the prey found beneath perches of fledglings and that identified from pellets, the latter mostly from adult kites. coleopteran             orthopteran     unspecified  187     unspecified  120   carabid  39     locustid     cicindelid          unspecified  34      unspecified  18        Arphia crassa  1      Cicindela sp. 

From Project Gutenberg