Meaning & use

scarab

noun·Advanced

A beetle, especially a dung beetle, or an ornamental object shaped like one, historically used in ancient Egypt as a symbol and amulet.

See it in a sentence

The museum displayed a small scarab carved from blue stone thousands of years ago.

Ancient Egyptians believed the scarab represented rebirth and protection.

A note on using this word

In everyday use, scarab most often refers to the Egyptian amulet rather than the living beetle itself.

Words with a similar meaning

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