hemimetabolous

[ hem-ee-mi-tab-uh-luhs ]

adjectiveEntomology.

having the developmental stages of an incomplete metamorphosis: the numerous orders of hemimetabolous insects include those of aphids, crickets, cockroaches, dragonflies, and earwigs.

Origin of hemimetabolous

¹

First recorded in 1865–70; hemi- + metabolous

Also hem·i·met·a·bol·ic [hem-ee-met-uh-bol-ik]. /ˌhɛm iˌmɛt əˈbɒl ɪk/.

Other words from hemimetabolous

hem·i·me·tab·o·lism, hem·i·me·tab·o·ly, noun

Words Nearby hemimetabolous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hemimetabolous in a sentence

The hemimetabolous species, as well as some of the holometabolous species such as the honey bees, have the same diet throughout their lives.
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