beetle

¹ American  

[beet-l] / ˈbit l /

noun

1. any of numerous insects of the order Coleoptera, characterized by hard, horny forewings that cover and protect the membranous flight wings.

2. (loosely) any of various insects resembling the beetle, as a cockroach.

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verb (used without object)

beetled, beetling

1. Chiefly British.  to move quickly; scurry.

   He beetled off to catch the train.

beetle ² American  

[beet-l] / ˈbit l /

noun

1. a heavy hammering or ramming instrument, usually of wood, used to drive wedges, force down paving stones, compress loose earth, etc.

2. any of various wooden instruments for beating linen, mashing potatoes, etc.

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verb (used with object)

beetled, beetling

1. to use a beetle on; drive, ram, beat, or crush with a beetle.

2. to finish (cloth) with a beetling machine.

beetle ³ American  

[beet-l] / ˈbit l /

adjective

1. projecting; overhanging.

   beetle brows.

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verb (used without object)

beetled, beetling

1. to project; jut out; overhang.

   a cliff that beetles over the sea; his mustache and beetling brows; thick eyebrows beetling over blue eyes.

2. to hang or tower over in a threatening or menacing manner.

   The prospect of bankruptcy beetled over him.

beetle ¹ British  

/ ˈbiːtəl /

noun

1. a heavy hand tool, usually made of wood, used for ramming, pounding, or beating

2. a machine used to finish cloth by stamping it with wooden hammers

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verb

1. to beat or pound with a beetle

2. to finish (cloth) by means of a beetle

beetle ² British  

/ ˈbiːtəl /

noun

1. any insect of the order Coleoptera , having biting mouthparts and forewings modified to form shell-like protective elytra

2. a game played with dice in which the players draw or assemble a beetle-shaped form

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verb

1. informal  to scuttle or scurry; hurry

beetle ³ British  

/ ˈbiːtəl /

verb

1. (intr) to overhang; jut

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adjective

1. overhanging; prominent

Other Word Forms

• beetler noun
• beetling adjective

Etymology

Origin of beetle¹

First recorded before 900; late Middle English bit(t)il, betylle, bityl, Old English bitel(a), betl, derivative of bītan bite

Origin of beetle²

First recorded before 900; Middle English betel, bitille “mallet, hammer,” Old English bītel, bētel, bȳtel (cognate with Middle Low German bētel “chisel”), derivative of bē(a)tan beat

Origin of beetle³

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; back formation from beetle-browed

Example Sentences

The "first of its kind in the UK" report identified the country's rarest species, including the high brown fritillary butterfly and Snowden leaf beetle, based on how geographically restricted they are, said Natural Resources Wales.

From BBC

The harlequin lady beetle has helped farmers and gardeners control plant-eating pests, and defenders argue it is basically harmless.

From The Wall Street Journal

Nvidia’s latest chips are mostly encased in plastic packages and resemble an ant or a beetle with copper wires for legs.

From The Wall Street Journal

Fallen leaves also create an ecosystem for other species, Renwick explains: “You’ve got beetles in there. You have worms coming up from the ground. Moths lay their eggs in the leaves.”

From The Wall Street Journal

"In this case, it's a beetle that loses the tree and the wood it needs to lay its eggs."

From BBC

Related Words

• ant
• aphid
• bee
• butterfly
• cockroach
• dragonfly
• flea
• fruit fly
• gnat
• grasshopper
• ladybug
• mite
• mosquito
• moth
• pest
• spider
• termite
• tick