coleopteran
|co-lep-ter-an|
🇺🇸
/ˌkoʊlɛpˈtɛrən/
🇬🇧
/ˌkəʊlɛpˈtɛrən/
sheathed-wing insect (beetle)
Etymology
'coleopteran' derives from Modern Latin 'Coleoptera', from Greek 'koleopteros' (a compound of 'koleos' meaning 'sheath' and 'pteron' meaning 'wing').
'Coleoptera' was adopted in scientific Latin from Greek; the English adjective/noun 'coleopteran' developed later from the taxonomic name 'Coleoptera' to refer to members of that order and things relating to them.
Originally formed from elements meaning 'sheath' and 'wing' to name the group with sheathed wings; it has retained that core sense and now denotes beetles or things pertaining to beetles.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a beetle; any insect belonging to the order Coleoptera, characterized by hardened forewings (elytra) that cover the hind wings.
The entomologist discovered a rare coleopteran in the leaf litter.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
relating to beetles or to the order Coleoptera.
He wrote a paper on coleopteran diversity in tropical forests.
Last updated: 2025/09/18 00:55