en·to·mol·o·gy ( n t -m l -j )n. The scientific study of insects. en to·mo·logic (-m-lj k), ento·mo·logi·cal (--kl) adj.en to·mo·logi·cal·ly adv.en to·molo·gist n. |
entomology [ˌɛntəˈmɒlədʒɪ]
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) the branch of science concerned with the study of insects
entomological [ˌɛntəməˈlɒdʒɪkəl], entomologic adj
entomologically adv
entomologist n
| entomology (nt-ml-j) The scientific study of insects. Word History Scientists who study insects (there are close to a million that can be studied!) are called entomologists. Why are they not called "insectologists"? Well, in a way they are. The word insect comes from the Latin word insectum, meaning "cut up or divided into segments." (The plural of insectum, namely insecta, is used by scientists as the name of the taxonomic class that insects belong to.) This Latin word was created in order to translate the Greek word for "insect," which is entomon. This Greek word also literally means "cut up or divided into segments," and it is the source of the word entomology. The Greeks had coined this term for insects because of the clear division of insect bodies into three segments, now called the head, thorax, and abdomen. |
entomology
the branch of zoology that studies insects. Also called insectology. — entomologist, n. — entomologie, entomological, adj.
See also: Insectsthe study of insects. — entomologist, n. — entomologie, entomological, adj.
See also: Zoology
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  entomology - the branch of zoology that studies insectslepidopterology, lepidoptery - the branch of entomology dealing with Lepidoptera zoological science, zoology - the branch of biology that studies animals caste - in some social insects (such as ants) a physically distinct individual or group of individuals specialized to perform certain functions in the colony |
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