entomo-, entom-

(Greek: insect, bug; literally, "cut up, cut in pieces"; an insect because it appears to be segmented)

entomologize (verb), entomologizes; entomologized; entomologizing
To collect insect specimens or to study and to observe the habits of such creatures.
entomology (noun) (no plural)
1. The branch of zoology that deals with the study of insects: The biology teacher brought in a book about entomology so the students could identify the bug that they found in their classroom.
2. Etymology: from French entomologie (1764), coined from Greek entomon, "insect" + logia, "study of".

Entomon is the neuter form of entomos, "having a notch or cut (at the waist)"; so called by Aristotle in reference to the segmented division of insect bodies.

Scientists who study insects (there are close to a million that can be studied) are called entomologists. Then why aren't they called "insectologists"? Well, they are.

The word insect comes from the Latin word insectum, meaning "cut up" or "divided into segments".

The plural of insectum, namely insecta, is used by scientists as the name of the taxonomic class that insects belong to.

This Latin word was created in order to translate the Greek word for "insect", which is entomon and literally means "cut up" or "divided into segments", and it is the source of the word entomology.

The Greeks coined this term for insects because of the division of insect bodies into three segments, now called the head, thorax, and abdomen.

—Based on information from a presentation in The American Heritage Science Dictionary, Houghton Mifflin Company; Boston; 2005.
The science that deals with insects and their environments.
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entomomania (s) (noun), entomomanias (pl)
An abnormal or compulsive fascination with insects.
entomopathogenic (adjective), more entomopathogenic, most entomopathogenic
In biology, pertaining to the cause of a disease or diseases in insects: Sharon was very interested in all kinds of insects and finally found out more information regarding the entomopathogenic reasons for so many insects dying that year.
entomophaga (s) (noun), entomophagas (pl)
1. One of a group of hymenopterous, or winged, insects whose larvae feed parasitically upon living insects.
2. A group of edentates, including the ant-eaters.
3. A group of marsupials which are partly insectivorous; such as, the opossum.
entomophage (verb), entomophages; entomophaged; entomophaging
entomophagous (adjective), more entomophagous, most entomophagous
Referring to eating or feeding on or the consumption of insects: Birds are the primary entomophagous creatures.

A duplicate term for entomophagous is "insectivorous".

entomophagy (s) (noun), entomophagies (pl)
The practice of eating insects.
entomophilous (adjective), more entomophilous, most entomophilous
Relating to the pollination of flowers by insects: Entomophilous plants require bugs for normal pollination and the flowers of the orchids and irises are especially attractive for the insects.
entomophily (s) (noun), entomophilies
Plants that are pollinated by insects: Entomophily involves the deposit by bugs of microscopic grains that are discharged from the male part of a flower or plant which allows fertilization of such vegetation.
entomophobia (s) (noun), entomophobias (pl)
An irrational dread and revulsion of insects: Thomas, suffering from entomophobia and hating all kinds of bugs, woke up one morning, found a spider near his bed, and jumped up crying out in horror!
A natural phobia about having bugs in the bed.

—Word Info image © Copyright, 2006.
entomophthora (s) (noun), entomophthoras (pl)
A genus of fungi, subdivision zygomycotina and the order entomorphthorales.

They are primarily parasites of insects and spiders, but have been found to cause mycotic infections of the nose in people and horses.

Zygomycotina are a subdivision of fungi, formerly included in the phycomycetes, usually saprophytic or parasitic, especially for insects.

entomophyte (s) (noun), entomophytes (pl)
Any fungus growing on or in insects.
entomosis (s) (noun), entomoses (pl)
A disease caused by an insect parasite.
entomotaxy (s) (noun), entomotaxies (pl)
The preservation, preparation, and arrangement of insects for study.

Pointing to a page about a kleptomaniac A unit of words about insects.

A cross reference of other word family units that are related directly, or indirectly, with: "insects, bugs, worms; invertebrates": aphidi-; api-; ascari-; culci-; Dung Beetle Survival; Dung Beetles Important; Eating Worms; formic-; Guinea worms; helmintho-; insecto-; isopter-; larvi-; lepidopter-; meliss-; mosquito; Mosquito, other Languages; Mosquitoes, Pt. 1; Mosquitoes, Pt. 2; myrmeco-; scarab; scoleco-; sphec-; taeni-; termit-; vermo-.