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mantis

[ man-tis ]
/ ˈmæn tɪs /

noun, plural man·tis·es, man·tes [man-teez]. /ˈmæn tiz/.

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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Also mantid.
Also called praying mantis.

Origin of mantis

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

Words nearby mantis

mantic, manticore, mantid, mantilla, Mantinea, mantis, mantispid, mantissa, mantis shrimp, mantle, mantlepiece
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for mantis

British Dictionary definitions for mantis

mantis
/ (ˈmæntɪs) /

noun plural -tises or -tes (-tiːz)

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 DictyopteraAlso called: praying mantis See also cockroach

Word Origin for mantis

C17: New Latin, from Greek: prophet, alluding to its praying posture
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