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mesothorax

[mez-uh-thawr-aks, -thohr-, mes-, mee-zuh-, -suh-]
noun, plural mes·o·tho·rax·es, mes·o·tho·ra·ces [mez-uh-thawr-uh-seez, -thohr-, mes-, mee-zuh-, -suh-] /ˌmɛz əˈθɔr əˌsiz, -ˈθoʊr-, ˌmɛs-, ˌmi zə-, -sə-/.
  1. the middle segment of the three divisions of the thorax of an insect, bearing the second pair of legs and the first pair of wings.
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Origin of mesothorax

First recorded in 1820–30; meso- + thorax
Related formsmes·o·tho·rac·ic [mez-uh-thaw-ras-ik, -thoh-, mes-, mee-zuh-, -suh-] /ˌmɛz ə θɔˈræs ɪk, -θoʊ-, ˌmɛs-, ˌmi zə-, -sə-/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for mesothorax

Historical Examples

  • These are the mesothorax and the first eight abdominal segments.

    The Glow-Worm and Other Beetles

    Jean Henri Fabre

  • When it is covered by the mesothorax; it is then usually a mere membrane.

  • Prothoracic segment a little longer than the mesothorax which, in turn, slightly exceeds the metathorax.

  • The next segment is the mesothorax, which is immovably fused to the next thoracic segment.

  • Lastly, we count nine pairs of stigmata: one pair on the mesothorax and the rest on the first eight segments of the abdomen.

British Dictionary definitions for mesothorax

mesothorax

noun plural -raxes or -races (-rəˌsiːz)
  1. the middle segment of the thorax of an insect, bearing the second pair of walking legs and the first pair of wingsSee also prothorax, metathorax
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Derived Formsmesothoracic (ˌmɛsəʊθɔːˈræsɪk), adjective
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