strepsipterous

American

[strep-sip-ter-uhs] / strɛpˈsɪp tər əs /

adjective

belonging or pertaining to the order Strepsiptera, comprising minute insects that are closely related to the beetles, the twisted-winged male being free-living and the wingless female parasitic in various insect hosts.

Etymology

Origin of strepsipterous

1810–20; < New Latin Strepsipter ( a ) order name (< Greek strepsi- (stem of strépsis a turning round, equivalent to strep- (variant stem of stréphein to twist, turn; cf. strepto-) + -sis -sis ) + -ptera, neuter plural of -pteros -pterous ) + -ous

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