insect

Definitions

1. 1.(Zoöl.) Any air-breathing arthropod, as a spider or scorpion.
2. 2.(Zoöl.) Any small crustacean. In a wider sense, the word is often loosely applied to various small invertebrates.
3. 3.Fig.: Any small, trivial, or contemptible person or thing. Thomson. Insect powder,a powder used for the extermination of insects; esp., the powdered flowers of certain species of Pyrethrum, a genus now merged in Chrysanthemum. Called also Persian powder.
4. 4.Of or pertaining to an insect or insects.
5. 5.Like an insect; small; mean; ephemeral.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Related questions

• What does "insect" mean?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is insect.

• What is any air-breathing arthropod, as a spider or scorpion called?
• What is any small crustacean. In a wider sense, the word is often loosely applied to various small invertebrates called?
• What is of or pertaining to an insect or insects called?