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anopheles

 - 5 dictionary results

a⋅noph⋅e⋅les

  [uh-nof-uh-leez]
Use anopheles in a Sentence
–noun, plural -les.
any mosquito of the genus Anopheles, certain species of which are vectors of the parasite causing malaria in humans, distinguished from other mosquitoes by the absence of breathing tubes in the larvae and by the head-downward stance of the adult while resting or feeding.
Compare culex.

Origin:
1895–1900; < NL < Gk anōphels useless, hurtful, harmful, equiv. to an- an- 1 + -ōpheles- var. s. of óphelos profit; earlier (a)n- (with vowel lengthening) + opheles-, written in Mycenaean Gk as nopere

Related forms:
a⋅noph⋅e⋅line  [uh-nof-uh-lahyn, -lin] , adjective, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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a·noph·e·les   (ə-nŏf'ə-lēz')   
n.  Any of various mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles, which can carry the malaria parasite and transmit the disease to humans.

[From Greek anōphelēs, useless : an-, without; see a-1 + ophelos, advantage, use (influenced by earlier *nōphelēs, useless).]
a·noph'e·line' (-līn', -lĭn) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

anopheles 
genus of mosquitoes, 1899, Mod.L., coined by Ger. entomologist Johann Wilhelm Meigen, 1818, from Gk. anopheles "useless, hurtful, harmful," from priv. prefix an- + ophelos "use, help, advantage" (see Ophelia). So called because it conveys malaria.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: anoph·e·les
Pronunciation: &-'näf-&-"lEz
Function: noun
1 capitalized : a genus of mosquitoes thatincludes all mosquitoes that transmit malaria to humans
2 : any mosquito of the genus Anopheles —anopheles adjective —anoph·e·line /-"lIn/ adjective or noun
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Anopheles A·noph·e·les (ə-nŏf'ə-lēz')
n.
A genus of mosquitoes containing over 90 species, many of which are vectors of malaria.

a·noph·e·line (-līn')

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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