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ant lion
or antlion
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noun
any of several insects belonging to the family Myrmeleontidae, of the order Neuroptera, the larvae of which dig a pit in sand where they lie in wait to prey upon ants or other insects that lose their footing.
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Origin of ant lion
First recorded in 1805–15
Words nearby ant lion
antlered, antlerite, antler moth, Antlia, antlike, ant lion, Antofagasta, Antoine, Antoinette, Anton, Antonello da Messina
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use ant lion in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for ant lion
antlion
/ (ˈæntˌlaɪən) /
noun
Also called: antlion fly any of various neuropterous insects of the family Myrmeleontidae, which typically resemble dragonflies and are most common in tropical regions
Also called (US): doodlebug the larva of this insect, which has very large jaws and buries itself in the sand to await its prey
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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