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Glite Dictionary
formicary

formicary

9.9
A nest made by ants where they live
  • noun
  • /ˈfɔrmɪˌkɛri/
  • Archaic
translation icon : hormiguero
  • The children watched in fascination as ants carried food into their formicary.

Examples

  • Scientists observed the structure of the formicary to learn more about ant colonies.

  • A large formicary stood at the edge of the forest, bustling with ant activity.

  • The formicary was bustling with activity.

  • Have you ever seen a formicary up close?

  • A large formicary stood at the edge of the forest, bustling with ant activity.

  • The children watched in fascination as ants carried food into their formicary.

  • Scientists observed the structure of the formicary to learn more about ant colonies.

Synonyms

anthill
vsformicary
9 1.2

A small mound of earth made by ants where they live and move through tunnels

is the broader dwelling term covering both mounds and the nest itself

Surface Forms

formicary singular
formicaries plural

Morphology

formicary = formic (opaque) = formic + ary

Although historically built from Latinate 'formic' + '-ary' meaning a place of ants, both elements are rare and not familiar to average learners, so the meaning is not transparently derived from more familiar English vocabulary like 'ant'.

Etymology

The word formicary comes from the Latin formica, meaning 'ant', and the ending -ary, which often shows a 'place of' or connection. So a formicary is literally the 'place of ants', which is why it means an ant nest.