entomology

American  

[en-tuh-mol-uh-jee] / ˌɛn təˈmɒl ə dʒi /

noun

1. the branch of zoology dealing with insects.

---

entomology British  

/ ˌɛntəməˈlɒdʒɪkəl, ˌɛntəˈmɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the branch of science concerned with the study of insects

---

entomology Scientific  

/ ĕn′tə-mŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of insects.

---

Word History

Scientists who study insects (there are close to a million that can be studied!) are called entomologists. Why are they not called “insectologists”? Well, in a way they are. The word insect comes from the Latin word insectum, meaning “cut up or divided into segments.” (The plural of insectum, namely insecta, is used by scientists as the name of the taxonomic class that insects belong to.) This Latin word was created in order to translate the Greek word for “insect,” which is entomon. This Greek word also literally means “cut up or divided into segments,” and it is the source of the word entomology. The Greeks had coined this term for insects because of the clear division of insect bodies into three segments, now called the head, thorax, and abdomen.

Other Word Forms

• entomologic adjective
• entomological adjective
• entomologically adverb
• entomologist noun
• nonentomologic adjective
• nonentomological adjective
• unentomological adjective

Etymology

Origin of entomology

First recorded in 1760–70; entomo- + -logy

Example Sentences

"Not all blowflies are this species. We don't have to be afraid of all flies," said Amy Murillo, UCR assistant professor of entomology and principal investigator of the project.

From Science Daily

The phenomenon is ironic, said Ric Bessin, a professor of entomology at the University of Kentucky, since ladybugs have traditionally been a symbol of cleanliness and order.

From The Wall Street Journal

Former University of California, Riverside entomology graduate student Michelle Miner questioned whether the added pressure from aggressive ants could be making things worse for these essential pollinators.

From Science Daily

Heather Ferguson, professor of medical entomology at the University of Glasgow, described the initial response to their three-year long project as "tremendous".

From BBC

He is also a member of an entomology association in Modena, a city in the north of Italy.

From BBC