Insect Definition

ĭnsĕkt

insects

noun

insects

Any of a large class (Insecta) of small arthropod animals, including beetles, bees, flies, wasps, and mosquitoes, characterized in the adult state by division of the body into head, thorax, and abdomen, by three pairs of legs on the thorax, and, usually, by two pairs of membranous wings.

Webster's New World

Any small arthropod, usually wingless, including spiders, centipedes, pill bugs, and mites.

Webster's New World

An unimportant or contemptible person.

Webster's New World

An arthropod in the class Insecta, characterized by six legs, up to four wings, and a chitinous exoskeleton.

Our shed has several insect infestions, including ants, yellowjackets, and wasps.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Insect

Noun

Singular:

insect

Plural:

insects

Origin of Insect

From Middle French insecte, from Latin insectum (“with a notched or divided body, cut up”), from perfect passive partciple of insecō (“I cut up”), from in- + secō (“I cut”), from the notion that the insect's body is "cut into" three sections. Calque of Ancient Greek ἔντομον (entomon, “insect”), from ἔντομος (entomos, “cut into pieces”).

From Wiktionary
Latin īnsectum from neuter past participle of īnsecāre to cut up (translation of Greek entomon segmented, cut up, insect) in- in in–² secāre to cut sek- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition