SKIP TO CONTENT

insecte

Definitions of insecte
  1. noun
    small air-breathing arthropod
    see moresee less
    types:
    coléoptère
    insect having biting mouthparts and front wings modified to form horny covers overlying the membranous rear wings
    pou
    wingless usually flattened bloodsucking insect parasitic on warm-blooded animals
    puce
    any wingless bloodsucking parasitic insect noted for ability to leap
    diptère
    insects having usually a single pair of functional wings (anterior pair) with the posterior pair reduced to small knobbed structures and mouth parts adapted for sucking or lapping or piercing
    hyménoptère, insecte hyménoptère
    insects having two pairs of membranous wings and an ovipositor specialized for stinging or piercing
    abeille travailleuse, ouvrière
    sterile member of a colony of social insects that forages for food and cares for the larvae
    termite
    whitish soft-bodied ant-like social insect that feeds on wood
    blattoptéroides
    cockroaches and mantids
    punaise
    insects with sucking mouthparts and forewings thickened and leathery at the base; usually show incomplete metamorphosis
    odonate
    large primitive predatory aquatic insect having two pairs of membranous wings
    perce-oreille
    any of numerous insects of the order Dermaptera having elongate bodies and slender many-jointed antennae and a pair of large pincers at the rear of the abdomen
    lépidoptère
    insect that in the adult state has four wings more or less covered with tiny scales
    chrysalide
    an insect in the inactive stage of development (when it is not feeding) intermediate between larva and adult
    imago
    an adult insect produced after metamorphosis
    reine
    the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
    bête à bon Dieu, coccinelle
    small round bright-colored and spotted beetle that usually feeds on aphids and other insect pests
    coléoptère
    beetle having antennae with hard platelike terminal segments
    morpion
    a louse that infests the pubic region of the human body
    mouche
    two-winged insects characterized by active flight
    moustique
    two-winged insect whose female has a long proboscis to pierce the skin and suck the blood of humans and animals
    moucheron
    any of various small biting flies: midges; biting midges; black flies; sand flies
    cousin, tipule
    long-legged slender flies that resemble large mosquitoes but do not bite
    abeille
    any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
    reine
    fertile egg-laying female bee
    soldat
    a wingless sterile ant or termite having a large head and powerful jaws adapted for defending the colony
    abeille travailleuse, ouvrière
    sterile bee specialized to collect food and maintain the hive
    guêpe
    social or solitary hymenopterans typically having a slender body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk and having a formidable sting
    blatte
    any of numerous chiefly nocturnal insects; some are domestic pests
    punaise des lits
    bug of temperate regions that infests especially beds and feeds on human blood
    libellule
    slender-bodied non-stinging insect having iridescent wings that are outspread at rest; adults and nymphs feed on mosquitoes etc.
    papillon
    diurnal insect typically having a slender body with knobbed antennae and broad colorful wings
    papillon de nuit
    typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae
    chrysalide
    pupa of a moth or butterfly enclosed in a cocoon
    type of:
    arthropode
    invertebrate having jointed limbs and a segmented body with an exoskeleton made of chitin
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘insecte'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family