click beetle

click beetle
Elater El"a*ter, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? driver, fr. ? to drive.] 1. (Bot.) An elastic spiral filament for dispersing the spores, as in some liverworts. [1913 Webster]

2. (Zo["o]l.) Any beetle of the family {Elaterid[ae]}, having the habit, when laid on the back, of giving a sudden upward spring, by a quick movement of the articulation between the abdomen and thorax; -- called also {click beetle}, {spring beetle}, and {snapping beetle}. [1913 Webster]

3. (Zo["o]l.) The caudal spring used by {Podura} and related insects for leaping. See {Collembola}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Click beetle — Click beetles Click beetle adults and larvae (wireworms) Left: Wheat Wireworm (Agriotes mancus) Right: Sand Wireworm (Horistonotus uhlerii) Scientific classification Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • Click beetle — Click bee tle (Zo[ o]l.) See {Elater}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • click beetle — n. any of a family (Elateridae) of beetles that, when on their backs, can usually spring up with a clicking sound …   English World dictionary

  • click beetle — any of numerous beetles of the family Elateridae, having the ability to spring up with a clicking sound when placed on their backs. Also called skipjack, snapping beetle. [1860 65] * * * ▪ insect also called  Skipjack,  Snapping Beetle,  or… …   Universalium

  • click beetle — click′ bee tle n. ent any of numerous beetles of the family Elateridae, having the ability to spring up with a clicking sound when placed on their backs • Etymology: 1860–65 …   From formal English to slang

  • click beetle — noun a long, narrow beetle which can spring up with a click as a means of startling predators and escaping. [Family Elateridae.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • click beetle — /ˈklɪk bitl/ (say klik beetl) noun an elaterid beetle that makes a clicking sound in springing up, as after having been laid on its back; snapping beetle …  

  • click beetle — noun able to right itself when on its back by flipping into the air with a clicking sound • Syn: ↑skipjack, ↑snapping beetle • Hypernyms: ↑elaterid beetle, ↑elater, ↑elaterid …   Useful english dictionary

  • click beetle — noun Date: 1835 any of a family (Elateridae) of beetles able to right themselves with a click when inverted by flexing the articulation between the prothorax and mesothorax …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • click beetle — noun Any of various beetles of the family Elateridae, generally less than 20 mm long, which if turned upside down, flip themselves into the air with a clicking sound …   Wiktionary

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