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Lepidoptera

Syllabification: (Lep·i·dop·ter·a)
Pronunciation: /ˌlepəˈdäptərə/

Entomology
Definition of Lepidoptera
  • an order of insects that comprises the butterflies and moths. They have four large scale-covered wings that bear distinctive markings, and larvae that are caterpillars.
  • (lepidoptera) [as plural noun] insects of the order Lepidoptera.

Derivatives

lepidopteran

adjective & noun

lepidopterous

Pronunciation: /-tərəs/

adjective

Origin:

modern Latin (plural), from Greek lepis, lepid- 'scale' + pteron 'wing'

Lepidoptera in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of Lepidoptera in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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