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Glite Dictionary
leaf insect

leaf insect

6.3
An insect that looks like a leaf to hide among leaves
  • noun
  • /liːf ˈɪn.sɛkt/
  • Indian
translation icon : insecto hoja
  • The leaf insect blended perfectly into the foliage, making it nearly invisible to predators.

Examples

  • Researchers studied how the camouflage of the leaf insect helps it avoid being eaten.

  • Have you seen a leaf insect before?

  • Many visitors to the rainforest exhibit are amazed by the leaf insect's incredible mimicry.

  • The leaf insect blends perfectly with the foliage.

  • Many visitors to the rainforest exhibit are amazed by the leaf insect's incredible mimicry.

  • Researchers studied how the camouflage of the leaf insect helps it avoid being eaten.

  • The leaf insect blended perfectly into the foliage, making it nearly invisible to predators.

Synonyms

walking leaf
vsleaf insect
  • Indian
8.9

An insect that looks like a flat leaf and hides on plants

is adapted with a plant-like body for hiding by camouflage

How Destructive

defoliator
  • Specialized
1 9.7
pest
68 1.0
herbivore
  • Specialized
9 3.7
leaf insect
  • Indian
6.3

Surface Forms

leaf insect singular
leaf insects plural

Morphology

leaf + insect

The meaning 'an insect that resembles or is like a leaf' is directly and predictably derived from combining 'leaf' + 'insect' (an insect that looks like a leaf). This noun–noun compound follows a common compositional pattern found cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Leaf insect is named because the insect looks like a leaf, with a flat green body that helps it 'hide' among plants. That's why the name means an insect that uses this leaf-like shape to avoid being seen.