ant lion

ant lion
noun Date: 1815 any of various neuropterous insects (as of the genus Myrmeleon) having a long-jawed larva that digs a conical pit in which it lies in wait to catch insects (as ants) on which it feeds

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Ant-lion — Ant li on, n. (Zo[ o]l.) A neuropterous insect, the larva of which makes in the sand a pitfall to capture ants, etc. The common American species is {Myrmeleon obsoletus}, the European is {Myrmeleon formicarius}. [1913 Webster] || …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ant lion — n. [transl. of Gr myrmēkoleōn in LXX, Job 4:11] any of a family (Myrmeleontidae) of neuropteran insects, some of which have large jawed larvae (doodlebugs) that lie hidden in cone shaped pits where they feed on ants and other insects that fall in …   English World dictionary

  • ant lion — noun 1. the larva of any of several insects • Syn: ↑doodlebug, ↑antlion • Hypernyms: ↑larva • Member Holonyms: ↑Myrmeleon, ↑genus Myrmeleon 2. winged insect resembling a dragonfly …   Useful english dictionary

  • ant lion — ant′ li on or ant′li on n. ent any of several nocturnal insects of the family Myrmeleontidae, resembling a damselfly, which as a larva (doodlebug) preys upon ants and other insects at the bottom of a conical sand trap with only its mandibles… …   From formal English to slang

  • ant lion — /ˈænt laɪən/ (say ant luyuhn) noun the predacious larva of various neuropterous insects of the family Myromeleontidae, which digs a deep sided pit in sandy soil into which ants and other small insects fall. {from the sense of its being a… …  

  • ant lion — any of several insects belonging to the family Myrmeleontidae, of the order Neuroptera, the larvae of which dig a pit in sand where they lie in wait to prey upon ants or other insects that lose their footing. Also, antlion. [1805 15] * * * …   Universalium

  • ant lion — insect which feeds on ants, insect which digs a pit and lies in wait for ants and other insects …   English contemporary dictionary

  • ant lion — noun an insect that resembles a dragonfly, with predatory larvae that construct conical pits into which insects fall. [Family Myrmeleontidae.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • ant-lion — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Lion ant — Lion Li on (l[imac] [u^]n), n. [F. lion, L. leo, onis, akin to Gr. le wn. Cf. {Chameleon}, {Dandelion}, {Leopard}.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A large carnivorous feline mammal ({Panthera leo}, formerly {Felis leo}), found in Southern Asia and in most parts… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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