coleopteran
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co·le·op·ter·an
(kō′lē-ŏp′tər-ən, kŏl′ē-) also co·le·op·ter·on (-tə-rŏn′)n.
Any of numerous insects of the order Coleoptera; a beetle.
[From New Latin Coleoptera, order name, from Greek koleopteros, sheath-winged : koleon, sheath; see kel- in Indo-European roots + pteron, wing; see pet- in Indo-European roots.]
co′le·op′ter·an, co′le·op′ter·ous (-tər-əs) adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
coleopteran
(ˌkɒlɪˈɒptərən)n
(Animals) 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
adj
(Animals) of, relating to, or belonging to the order Coleoptera
[C18: from New Latin Coleoptera, from Greek koleoptera, from koleopteros sheath-winged, from koleon sheath + pteron wing]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
co•le•op•ter•an
(ˌkoʊ liˈɒp tər ən, ˌkɒl i-)n. adj.
2. of or pertaining to a beetle.
[1840–50; < New Latin Coleopter(a) the order comprising beetles (< Greek koleóptera, neuter pl. of koleópteros sheath-winged = koleó(n) sheath + -pteros -pterous) + -an 1]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.