n. Any of various carnivorous insects of the order Mecoptera, which includes the scorpionflies, characterized by long membranous wings and an elongated beaklike head having chewing mouthparts at the tip. [From New Latin Mēcoptera, order name : Greek mēkos, length; see māk- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + Greek ptera, pl. of pteron, wing; see pet- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] me·copter·ous adj. |
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