scorpion

American  

[skawr-pee-uhn] / ˈskɔr pi ən /

noun

1. any of numerous arachnids of the order Scorpionida, widely distributed in warmer parts of the world, having a long, narrow, segmented tail that terminates in a venomous sting.

2. Astronomy. the Scorpion, Scorpius.

3. any of various harmless lizards, especially the red- or orange-headed males of certain North American skinks.

4. Bible. a whip or scourge that has spikes attached. 1 Kings 12:11.

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scorpion ¹ British  

/ ˈskɔːpɪən /

noun

1. any arachnid of the order Scorpionida, of warm dry regions, having a segmented body with a long tail terminating in a venomous sting

2. any small nonvenomous arachnid of the order Pseudoscorpionida (or Chelonethida ), which superficially resemble scorpions but lack the long tail See book scorpion

3. any of various other similar arachnids, such as the whip scorpion, or other arthropods, such as the water scorpion

4. Old Testament a barbed scourge (I Kings 12:11)

5. history a war engine for hurling stones; ballista

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Scorpion ² British  

/ ˈskɔːpɪən /

noun

1. the constellation Scorpio, the eighth sign of the zodiac

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Other Word Forms

• scorpionic adjective

Etymology

Origin of scorpion

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Latin scorpiōn- (stem of scorpiō ), equivalent to scorp(ius) “scorpion” (from Greek skorpíos ) + -iōn- noun suffix, perhaps after pāpiliō (stem pāpiliōn- ) “butterfly,” or stelliō (stem stelliōn- ) “gecko”

Example Sentences

The noise of crickets felt as though it would pierce my eardrums, and I prayed I wouldn’t step on any snakes or scorpions.

From Literature

Solanke then produced a stunning scorpion kick to equalise and leave City six points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

From Barron's

Researchers examining spiders and scorpions at the Zoological Collections Laboratory of the Butantan Institute in São Paulo, Brazil, noticed something unusual on a spider only a few millimeters long.

From Science Daily

Human-sized sea scorpions and enormous nautiloids with pointed shells stretching up to five meters hunted through the water.

From Science Daily

Seasoned diplomats rehearsed rigid protocols to prevent misunderstandings between two nuclear powers poised like scorpions in a jar.

From The Wall Street Journal