[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/insect/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [I](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/i/) / insect

# insect

noun (an insect, insects)

«insect» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

An insect is a small animal with six legs and a body in three parts (head, thorax, abdomen); most insects have wings and antennae. Ants, bees, butterflies, beetles and flies are insects. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insect/#m1)

### In the lessons

In science, insects are invertebrates (no backbone) with an exoskeleton; many go through metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult). They pollinate flowers, feed birds and recycle dead things. In safety, some insects sting (bees, wasps) or bite (mosquitoes); tell an adult if a sting makes you swell or find breathing hard. Spiders are NOT insects: they have eight legs.

### Examples

- A ladybird is a small insect. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insect/#x1)
- Insects have six legs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insect/#x2)
- Bees are useful insects that pollinate flowers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insect/#x3)
- We looked for insects under the log. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insect/#x4)
- The insect has two antennae. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insect/#x5)
- A caterpillar changes into a butterfly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insect/#x6)
- Use insect repellent when camping. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insect/#x7)
- Count the legs: if there are eight, it is not an insect. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insect/#x8)
- "Away with you, vile insect!" said a Lion angrily to a Gnat that was buzzing around his head. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insect/#x9)

### Note

Countable; «an insect» (vowel sound). Common trap: spiders, scorpions, woodlice and worms are not insects. «Bug» is used for any insect in everyday speech, though scientists use «bug» for one group. In maths problems, each insect has 6 legs: 5 insects have 5 × 6 = 30 legs.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «insect» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insect/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«insect» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/insect.html) on Mova free.