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Glite Dictionary
family Cicindelidae

family Cicindelidae

9.9
A group of beetles like tiger beetles that hunt and run very fast
  • noun
  • /ˈfæmɪli sɪˈsɪndəˌliːdeɪ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : familia Cicindelidae
  • Many species in the family Cicindelidae are characterized by their bright colors and metallic sheen.

Examples

  • The family Cicindelidae includes many species of tiger beetles.

  • The family Cicindelidae includes some of the fastest running insects in the world.

  • Entomologists often study the family Cicindelidae to learn more about predatory beetles.

  • Did you know that the family Cicindelidae is known for its speed?

  • The family Cicindelidae includes many brightly colored tiger beetles that are known for their speed and hunting skills.

  • Scientists study the behavior of beetles in the family Cicindelidae to understand their role in the ecosystem.

  • In gardens, you might spot a beetle from the family Cicindelidae, darting quickly across the soil in search of prey.

Synonyms

Cicindelidae
vsfamily Cicindelidae
  • Specialized
9.9

A family of bright, fast beetles that hunt other insects

is the same meaning but explicitly labels it as a family

Surface Forms

family Cicindelidae singular
families Cicindelidae plural

Morphology

family + Cicindelidae

The phrase is directly compositional: 'family' denotes a taxonomic grouping and 'Cicindelidae' is the name of that specific beetle family, so the overall meaning is simply 'the family called Cicindelidae'. This follows a common, cross-linguistic scientific naming pattern (family + taxon name) and is predictable for a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.

Etymology

Family Cicindelidae comes from the old Latin word cicindela, which meant a shiny little insect. Because many of these beetles have bright, metallic colours, scientists used that word for the whole group, so family Cicindelidae refers to the fast, colorful 'tiger beetles'.