Insect — Defs

01 n. One of the Insecta; esp., one of the Hexapoda. See Insecta.

1.
One of the Insecta; esp., one of the Hexapoda. See Insecta.(Zool.) See: Insecta
2.
Any air-breathing arthropod, as a spider or scorpion.(Zool.)
3.
Any small crustacean. In a wider sense, the word is often loosely applied to various small invertebrates.(Zool.)
4.
Fig.: Any small, trivial, or contemptible person or thing.

Phrases & compounds

Insect powder — a powder used for the extermination of insects; esp., the powdered flowers of certain species of Pyrethrum, a genus now merged in Chrysanthemum. Called also Persian powder.

02 a. Of or pertaining to an insect or insects.

1.
Of or pertaining to an insect or insects.
2.
Like an insect; small; mean; ephemeral.