Dragonfly Article for 140 Reading

Christine A. (United States of America)
38 words 1 learner

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. damselfly
    slender non-stinging insect similar to but smaller than the dragonfly but having wings folded when at rest
    There are two large groups of these insects – the dragonflies themselves and the damselflies.
  2. dragonfly
    slender-bodied non-stinging insect having iridescent wings that are outspread at rest; adults and nymphs feed on mosquitoes etc.
    Among the most beautiful and useful of all insects is the dragonfly.
  3. streambed
    a channel occupied (or formerly occupied) by a stream
    In winter they sleep in the streambed.
  4. life cycle
    a series of stages through which an organism passes
    The following spring, the life cycle begins once again.
  5. insect
    a small creature with six legs, a hard body, and two antennae
    Among the most beautiful and useful of all insects is the dragonfly.
  6. outspread
    fully extended in width
    They are held outspread when the dragonfly lands.
  7. wings
    a means of flight or ascent
    It has thin silvery wings.
  8. nymph
    a minor nature goddess depicted as a beautiful maiden
    Then it is called a nymph.
  9. lazily
    in an idle manner
    It flies more slowly and lazily.
  10. slit
    a long narrow opening
    The damselfly cuts a slit in the stems of water plants.
  11. jaw
    the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth
    Then it puts them into its jaws.
  12. scoop
    the shovel or bucket of a dredge or backhoe
    It uses this basket to scoop insects from the air.
  13. dart
    a sudden quick movement
    The dragonfly is a quick, darting insect that flies swiftly from place to place.
  14. silvery
    of lustrous grey
    It has thin silvery wings.
  15. basket
    a container that is usually woven and has handles
    The dragonfly can curve its legs to form a basket.
  16. cradle
    a baby bed with sides and rockers
    Sometimes the damselfly goes underwater and walks about looking for a good cradle for the eggs.
  17. cycle
    a periodically repeated sequence of events
    The following spring, the life cycle begins once again.
  18. hatch
    a movable barrier covering an entrance
    The nymphs hatch out of the eggs in one to four weeks.
  19. hover
    hang in the air; fly or be suspended above
    It can also hover over a lake or stream as it looks for food.
  20. curve
    the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes
    The dragonfly can curve its legs to form a basket.
  21. pond
    a small lake
    As she flies over the pond again and again, she dips underwater to wash off the eggs.
  22. dip
    immerse briefly into a liquid
    As she flies over the pond again and again, she dips underwater to wash off the eggs.
  23. prey
    animal hunted or caught for food
    With these big eyes the dragonfly can see its prey easily.
  24. slender
    having little width in proportion to the length or height
    The damselfly is more slender.
  25. swiftly
    in a swift manner
    The dragonfly is a quick, darting insect that flies swiftly from place to place.
  26. stem
    cylinder forming a long narrow part of something
    The damselfly cuts a slit in the stems of water plants.
  27. useful
    having a helpful function
    Among the most beautiful and useful of all insects is the dragonfly.
  28. species
    taxonomic group whose members can interbreed
    Some species lay their eggs in long strings on water plants.
  29. steel
    an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon
    Its body may be steel blue, purple, green, or copper.
  30. thin
    of relatively small extent from one surface to the opposite
    It has thin silvery wings.
  31. pair
    a set of two similar things considered as a unit
    Their two rear wings are larger than the front pair.
  32. joined
    connected by a link, as railway cars or trailer trucks
    Each eye has from 20,000 to 25,000 tiny eyes joined together.
  33. lake
    a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
    It can also hover over a lake or stream as it looks for food.
  34. stream
    a natural body of water flowing on or under the earth
    It can also hover over a lake or stream as it looks for food.
  35. stage
    any distinct time period in a sequence of events
    When they reach the adult stage, dragonflies live for only a few months.
  36. movement
    change of position that does not entail a change of location
    Sometimes it changes its direction so quickly in midflight that its sudden movement is hard to follow with the eye.
  37. direction
    a line leading to a place or point
    Sometimes it changes its direction so quickly in midflight that its sudden movement is hard to follow with the eye.
  38. forward
    at or to or toward the front
    Its six legs are far forward and close together.
Created on Tue Jan 18 20:44:19 EST 2011 (updated Tue Jan 18 20:53:16 EST 2011)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.