insects

Meanings

1. 1nounpluralbiology

   Small animals with six legs, a body in three parts and usually wings, such as ants, bees and flies.

   Grammar: Plural of insect: many insects live here, but one insect is on the window.

   Patterns

   • insects such as something
   • a swarm of insects

   Bees and butterflies are insects that help flowers grow.

   Insects have six legs, but spiders have eight.

   Insects flew around the lamp all evening.

2. 2nounpluralinformal

   Any small crawling or flying creature, in everyday speech, even if it is not scientifically an insect.

   Grammar: Used loosely in conversation: we saw insects in the garden.

   Patterns

   • insects in something

   Keep the food covered so insects stay away.

   We bought a spray to keep insects out of the tent.

Word forms

Common combinations

flying insects

Flying insects gathered near the porch light.

harmful insects

Birds eat many harmful insects in the garden.

swarm of insects

A swarm of insects rose from the pond.

insects feed on

These insects feed on the leaves of tomato plants.

repel insects

This lotion helps repel insects.

Synonyms and how they differ

bugs

Bugs is the informal, general word and can include spiders and worms, while insects has a stricter scientific meaning.

creepy-crawlies

Creepy-crawlies is a playful British word that suggests disgust, unlike the neutral insects.

pests

Pests are any animals that cause harm, and many pests are not insects.

Word family

insect noun

one such animal

insecticide noun

a chemical that kills insects

insectivore noun

an animal that eats insects

insectivorous adjective

feeding on insects

Commonly confused: insects or arachnids?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “insects”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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