cercus
noun
one of a pair of appendages at the rear of the abdomen of certain insects and other arthropods, serving as tactile organs.
cerci
-
pluralof cercus.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When the median caudal filament and two cerci were included, the total length reached 49.66 millimeters.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026
Anal fork: applied to the cerci of Coleopterous larvae.
From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by John. B. Smith
In some cases, however, it can be shown that the cerci really belong to an eleventh abdominal segment which usually becomes fused with the tenth.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 4 "Hero" to "Hindu Chronology" by Various
The appendages of the abdomen are called cerci, stylets and gonapophyses.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 4 "Hero" to "Hindu Chronology" by Various
The cerci in Japyx are not, as usual, jointed feelers, but strong, curved appendages forming a forceps as in earwigs.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 3 "Apollodorus" to "Aral" by Various
