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Glite Dictionary
water scorpion

water scorpion

9.5
A long-legged water insect with front legs to catch small animals and a tail-like breathing tube
  • noun
  • /ˈwɔːtər ˈskɔːrpiən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : escorpión de agua
  • The pond was full of water scorpions hiding among the reeds.

Examples

  • Biologists collected several water scorpion specimens for their insect study.

  • A water scorpion uses its long breathing tube to get air while remaining underwater.

  • The water scorpion is often found in ponds.

  • I spotted a water scorpion near the lily pads.

  • The water scorpion used its long front legs to catch small fish in the pond.

  • As I observed the shallow water, I spotted a water scorpion lurking among the plants.

  • The young boy excitedly pointed out the water scorpion swimming near the edge of the stream.

Synonyms

Nepa
vswater scorpion
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A long, thin water insect that breathes through a tube and looks like a scorpion

focuses on long legs and a prominent tail-like breathing tube
Ranatra
vswater scorpion
  • Specialized
9.9

A long thin water insect with a tube for breathing, like a small scorpion that lives in ponds

emphasizes very long legs and a tail-like breathing tube for hunting

Surface Forms

water scorpion singular
water scorpions plural

Morphology

water + scorpion

The compound 'water scorpion' transparently combines 'water' (aquatic) + 'scorpion' (scorpion-like creature), so a learner who knows both words will readily infer an aquatic, scorpion-like animal. This is a straightforward compositional naming pattern (common across languages) and does not rely on idiomatic or metaphorical shift.

Etymology

Water scorpion comes from the insect's look: it lives in water but has a long, tail-like breathing tube and claw-like front legs that make it seem like a small scorpion. So, the name links the fact it lives in water and its scorpion-like parts, which is why this 'insect' is called water scorpion.