insect
UK: ˈɪnsekt | US: ˈɪnsekt
n. a small arthropod animal with six legs, typically having a segmented body and wings
n. (figuratively) a contemptible or insignificant person
The word "insect" originates from Latin insectum, meaning "cut into sections," referring to the segmented bodies of these creatures. The term was adopted into Middle English via Old French insecte. The logic behind the word reflects the observable division of an insect’s body into distinct parts (head, thorax, abdomen), akin to being "cut into" segments.
The garden was teeming with tiny insects after the rain.
Ants are social insects that live in highly organized colonies.
She studied the insect under a microscope to identify its species.
He brushed the insect off his sleeve without harming it.
The scientist discovered a new species of insect in the rainforest.