false scorpion
- noun
- /fɔls ˈskɔrpɪən/
:
falso escorpión
- In Arizona, I saw a false scorpion in the desert.
Examples
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Although it resembles a false scorpion, this creature does not have a tail or stinger.
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Scientists discovered a rare species of false scorpion in the cave system.
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The false scorpion hides under bark, feeding on tiny insects and mites.
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Unlike true scorpions, a false scorpion does not have a venomous stinger.
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The false scorpion is often mistaken for a true scorpion.
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The false scorpion is often found hiding under rocks, where it waits to ambush small insects.
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Many people mistake the false scorpion for its venomous relatives, but it poses no threat to humans.
Synonyms
A very small creature like a scorpion but without a tail or sting
A very small animal like a tiny scorpion that lives in old books and papers
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'false' (= not genuine/imitative) modifies 'scorpion' so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer an animal that looks like a scorpion but is not a true one (e.g., lacking a tail or stinger). This modifier+noun pattern is cross-linguistically common and therefore immediately predictable from the constituents.
Etymology
False scorpion comes from how the animal looks: it looks like a small scorpion but has no long tail or stinger, so it is called false. So the name shows it looks like a scorpion but is 'not a true scorpion' and is harmless.
