formic-, form-, -formic

1. A reference to or being derived from ants.
2. Derived from formic acid, a type of chemical secreted by ants.

A colorless corrosive liquid compound with a penetrating odor, found in the bodies of ants and spiders, in the hairs and other parts of certain caterpillars, and in stinging nettles.

This substance as it occurs in living organisms produces the stinging sensation that results from the bite of red ants and is also found in spiders, in pine needles, as well as in stinging nettles.

Formic acid is made commercially by the reaction of carbon monoxide with sodium hydroxide and is used in dyeing and finishing textiles, treating leather, and producing fumigants, insecticides, and refrigerants.

Going back to the Latin word for "ant", it was first obtained in 1670 from the distillation of ants.

1. A genus (group) of ants of the family Formicidae (ants) and the subfamily Formicinae (ants), and in turn Formica's own type species is the European red wood ant Formica rufa.

Common names for this group are wood ant, mound ant, and field ant.

2. Social insects of the family Formicidae, characteristically having wings only in the males and fertile females and living in colonies that have complex social organizations.

1. Pertaining to, or referring to, an ant.
2. Resembling: an ant.

Producing a tactile sensation on the skin; such as, the crawling of small insects like ants.

A small, feeble pulse likened to the movements of ants.

1. Relating to or resembling ants.
2. Plants which attract ants by means of sweet secretions.

Antbirds; a family containing about 240 species of small Neotropical passerine forest birds.

They are solitary, non-migratory, feed on insects; some species follow armies of ants to catch when they are flushed out; they nest in trees or on the ground; their beaks are usually strong and hooked; their wings are short and rounded, while their flight is weak.

Ants' nest, particularly an artificial arrangement for purposes of scientific study: "The teacher used a discarded aquarium to build a formicarium so her students could study the behavior of ants."

1. An ants' nest or ant-hill.
2. Nests of ants, consisting of galleries and chambers excavated in the earth and covered by mounds of debris (grass, sticks, etc.).

1. To have a sensation on the skin as if ants are crawling around: To formicate is a neurologically based hallucinating process in which people feel as if insects are creeping all over their skin, sometimes as a result of abusing themselves with drugs or alcohol.
2. To crawl or to collect in swarms; such as, ants: Mrs. Jones was quite disturbed by the many insects that she saw formicating across her kitchen floor!
3. Etymology: from Latin formicare, "to crawl like an ant".

A reference to ants that have swarmed or collected in large groups and moved together.

1. An itching sensation like the crawling of ants over the skin: "For some people, formications can result from excessive scratching of itching skin which may lead to misleading medical diagnoses of skin diseases."
2. A form of paresthesia producing an itching and tingling sensation like that of ants running over the skin: "The feeling of formication is one of the more common side effects of cocaine withdrawal."

"Formication is also an abnormal sensation or hallucination that ants are crawling in or on the skin; which is a common symptom in diseases of the spinal cord and the peripheral nerves."

A descriptive reference to a an abnormal subjective sensation of ants (or other small insects) creeping in or under a given skin area: "Formicational feelings are more commonly seen in patients in whom there is some organic agent; usually in the form of narcotic drugs (alcohol, cocaine, morphine, etc.)."

1. Irritation caused by ant bites.
2. The itching, swollen condition following an ant bite or bites.