mouthpart

[ mouth-pahrt ]

noun

1. Usually mouthparts. the appendages surrounding or associated with the mouth of arthropods.

mouthpart

/ ˈmaʊθˌpɑːt /

noun

1. any of the paired appendages in arthropods that surround the mouth and are specialized for feeding

mouthpart

/ mouth′pärt′ /

1. Any of the parts of the mouth of an insect or other arthropod, especially a part or organ used for a specific way of feeding.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mouthpart¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; mouth + part

Example Sentences

When a mosquito bites you, it pierces the skin using a mouthpart called a proboscis to suck up blood.

From Seattle Times

What's more, the well-preserved insects are two males of the same species with piercing mouthparts, suggesting they likely sucked blood.

From Science Daily

This indicates that the bumblebees' mouthparts do not have mechanisms to detect and avoid common pesticides in nectar.

From Science Daily

Experts are uncertain what the earliest lampreys fed on, whether it was small prey or even algae, but they lacked the specialized mouthparts to feed on blood or flesh from other fish.

From National Geographic

While in orchids the length of the flower tube closely matches the length of the pollinating insect mouthparts, the island wasp has much shorter mouthparts than the bumblebee that pollinates Goodyera henryi on the mainland.

From Science Daily