water beetle

American  

noun

1. any of various aquatic beetles, as a predaceous diving beetle.

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water beetle British  

noun

1. any of various beetles of the families Dysticidae, Hydrophilidae, etc, that live most of the time in freshwater ponds, rivers, etc See whirligig beetle

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Etymology

Origin of water beetle

First recorded in 1660–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

water beetle

But readers are advised to treat lightly her sly suggestion that she is like Hilaire Belloc's artless water beetle who If she ever stopped to think Of how she did it, she would sink.

From Time Magazine Archive

The shiny black Checker limousine skimmed along Vientiane's pitted streets like a water beetle supported by surface tension.

From Time Magazine Archive

Neaera writes and illustrates children's books but she has grown tired of creating furry and feathery characters: perversely, she ponders a new story about a water beetle.

From Time Magazine Archive

She has taken to keeping a solitary water beetle in an aquarium, hoping that it will inspire her.

From Time Magazine Archive

“You haff a water beetle in your hair, Herm-own-ninny,” said Krum.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling