mantis

American  

[man-tis] / ˈmæn tɪs /

noun

plural

mantises, mantes

1. any of several predaceous insects of the order Mantidae, having a long prothorax and typically holding the forelegs in an upraised position as if in prayer.

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mantis British  

/ ˈmæntɪs /

noun

1. Also called: praying mantis.  any carnivorous typically green insect of the family Mantidae, of warm and tropical regions, having a long body and large eyes and resting with the first pair of legs raised as if in prayer: order Dictyoptera See also cockroach

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Etymology

Origin of mantis

1650–60; < New Latin < Greek mántis prophet, kind of insect; akin to mania

Compare meaning

How does mantis compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• mantid vs. mantis

Example Sentences

He was also passionate about his niche insect hobby, raising rare praying mantises.

From Los Angeles Times

And there was a vigorous cat chase at Yankee Stadium in 2021 on the same day that a mantis sat on a player’s head for two innings.

From Seattle Times

Indeed, Green plans to continue studying mantis shrimp armor and combat.

From Science Daily

The mantises can control their flight and travel up to 8 meters, researchers report this week in Current Biology.

From Science Magazine

After noticing that orchid mantises would jump vigorously away when startled, researchers wondered whether their petal-shaped legs might serve not just as camouflage, but also as wings.

From Science Magazine