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Glite Dictionary
elaterid beetle

elaterid beetle

9.7
A long beetle that makes a loud click to flip itself upright
  • noun
  • /ɪˈleɪtərɪd ˈbiːtəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : escarabajo eléctrido
  • The elaterid beetle is easily recognizable by the clicking sound it makes when it flips itself upright.

Examples

  • Farmers are concerned about the damage elaterid beetles and their larvae can cause to crops.

  • Entomologists studied several species of elaterid beetles collected from the forest floor.

  • The elaterid beetle is known for its ability to jump.

  • Many elaterid beetles can be found in gardens.

  • Entomologists studied several species of elaterid beetles collected from the forest floor.

  • Farmers are concerned about the damage elaterid beetles and their larvae can cause to crops.

  • The elaterid beetle is easily recognizable by the clicking sound it makes when it flips itself upright.

Synonyms

beetle
vselaterid beetle
95 1.0

A small insect with hard front wings that cover its back and a mouth for chewing

is the specific family member rather than the broad insect class
click beetle
vselaterid beetle
1 7.6

A beetle that snaps its body to flip into the air and make a quick clicking sound

is the scientific family label for insects with that flipping behaviour
elaterid
vselaterid beetle
  • Specialized
9.9

A beetle like a click beetle that makes a sharp click to flip and jump

is the common name form used for that same family member
elater
vselaterid beetle
  • Specialized
9.9

A beetle that makes a strong click to flip itself upright

is the compound common name for that same insect
snapping beetle
vselaterid beetle
7.5

A small beetle that jumps into the air with a click to flip itself upright when on its back

uses the scientific family label rather than that common name

Surface Forms

elaterid beetle singular
elaterid beetles plural

Morphology

elaterid + beetle

The compound is fully compositional: knowing 'elaterid' (a beetle that clicks / of the family Elateridae) combined with 'beetle' yields the meaning 'a beetle of the Elateridae (click beetle)'. This is a straightforward taxonomic modifier pattern found cross-linguistically, so a learner who knows both constituents can derive the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Elaterid beetle comes from an old Greek word 'elater', which means 'spring' or 'one that jumps'. One popular story says this fits because the beetle has a special joint that snaps and throws it into the air with a loud click, so today we call it the 'click beetle'.