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Diptera

Syllabification: (Dip·ter·a)
Pronunciation: /ˈdiptərə/
Entomology
Definition of Diptera
  • a large order of insects that comprises the two-winged or true flies, which have the hind wings reduced to form balancing organs (halteres). It includes many biting forms, such as mosquitoes and tsetse flies, that are vectors of disease.
  • (as plural noun diptera) insects of the order Diptera; flies.

Origin:

modern Latin (plural), from Greek diptera, neuter plural of dipteros 'two-winged', from di- 'two' + pteron 'wing'

Diptera in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of Diptera in the British & World English dictionary

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