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physogastric

American

[fahy-suh-gas-trik] / ˌfaɪ səˈgæs trɪk /

adjective

pertaining to the swollen, membranous abdomen of certain insects, especially termite and ant queens.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of physogastric

First recorded in 1910–15; physo- + gastric

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Thyreoxenus brevitibialis, a “termitophile” with a physogastric body form.

From Scientific American • Dec. 10, 2012

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.