crane fly

American

noun

any of numerous nonbiting insects constituting the family Tipulidae, inhabiting damp areas and resembling a large mosquito with extremely long legs.

crane fly British

noun

Also called (Brit): daddy-longlegs. any dipterous fly of the family Tipulidae, having long legs, slender wings, and a narrow body

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

crane-fly adjective

Etymology

Origin of crane fly

First recorded in 1650–60

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.

The behavior has been noted in related species of crane fly, and in other insect species, when predators grasp their legs.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 7, 2023

Back then, the culprit was the European crane fly.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 10, 2021

“That’s a crane fly. I have a lot of crane fly imitations.”

From Washington Times • Sep. 2, 2019

A 1985 study found that crane fly larvae, for instance, prefer dining on American chestnut and maple leaves to eating oak leaves.

From Scientific American • Mar. 1, 2014

The reprimanded pup snapped at a crane fly and shook himself.

From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023