insect

insect is part of the Basic English 850.

Pronunciation

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Noun

Singular insect

Plural insects

Picture dictionary

ant bee beetle butterfly dragonfly fly spider termite wasp

1. A type of small animal with an external skeleton and six legs.

   I killed a large insect in the bathroom.

   Crickets, ants, ladybugs, and flies are insects.

2. (figurative) A person who is weak or not important.

   The mayor thought of her as a mere insect.

Synonyms

• (small animal) bug
• (person) weakling

Antonyms

• (person) big dog

Derived words

• insecticide
• insectivore

Related words

• colony
• exoskeleton
• hive