coleopteran

[ koh-lee-op-ter-uhn, kol-ee- ]

adjective
  1. belonging or pertaining to the order Coleoptera.

noun
  1. a beetle.

Origin of coleopteran

1
First recorded in 1840–50; Coleopter(a) + -an

Words Nearby coleopteran

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How to use coleopteran in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for coleopteran

coleopteran

/ (ˌkɒlɪˈɒptərən) /


nounAlso: coleopteron
  1. any of the insects of the cosmopolitan order Coleoptera, in which the forewings are modified to form shell-like protective elytra. The order includes the beetles and weevils

adjectiveAlso: coleopterous
  1. of, relating to, or belonging to the order Coleoptera

Origin of coleopteran

1
C18: from New Latin Coleoptera, from Greek koleoptera, from koleopteros sheath-winged, from koleon sheath + pteron wing

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for coleopteran

coleopteran

[ kō′lē-ŏptər-ən, kŏl′ē- ]


  1. Any of numerous insects of the order Coleoptera, characterized by forewings modified to form tough protective covers for the membranous hind wings. Coleopterans include the beetles, weevils, and fireflies.

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