beetle

1 of 5

noun (1)

bee·​tle ˈbē-tᵊl How to pronounce beetle (audio)
1
: any of an order (Coleoptera) of insects having four wings of which the outer pair are modified into stiff elytra that protect the inner pair when at rest
2
: any of various insects resembling a beetle

beetle

2 of 5

verb (1)

beetled; beetling ˈbē-tᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce beetle (audio)

intransitive verb

: to scurry like a beetle
editors beetled around the office

beetle

3 of 5

noun (2)

1
: a heavy wooden hammering or ramming instrument
2
: a wooden pestle or bat for domestic tasks

beetle

4 of 5

adjective

: being prominent and overhanging
beetle brows

beetle

5 of 5

verb (2)

beetled; beetling ˈbē-tᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce beetle (audio)

intransitive verb

: project, jut
to scale the beetling cragsR. L. Stevenson

Examples of beetle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Your plants will be healthier, and your garden will delight you with birds, bees, butterflies and lady beetles. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024 The scarab beetle was one of the most prevalent symbols of ancient Egypt, found in all sorts of tombs beyond that of Tutankhamun. Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024 Dung beetles, Harbor seals and even the Albatross are also all cognizant of the celestial sphere in ways that still amaze and perplex. Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 Ladybugs Small beetles with rounded red or orange bodies and black spots. The Arizona Republic, 14 Feb. 2024 Agriculture specialists took samples from the shipments to look for disease and hitchhiking pests, including beetles, grasshoppers, wasps and moths. Patricia Mazzei Scott McIntyre, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2024 In greenhouses, Sheldon simulates a warming planet to see how the beetles react. Adam Yamaguchi, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2024 So far, Geng-Min’s jewel beetle is known from only one specimen found in Yunnan, the study said. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2024 If the library’s got bugs, and death beetles infested it in the 1970s, well, the stacks can turn into freezers. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 8 Feb. 2024
Adjective
So the annual allowable cut was reduced below pre-beetle-kill levels in 2015. Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2022
Verb
Black-and-yellow taxis beetled along Apollo Bunder, the road in front of the hotel. Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 28 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'beetle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English betylle, from Old English bitula; akin to bītan to bite

Noun (2)

Middle English betel, from Old English bīetel; akin to Old English bēatan to beat

Adjective

Middle English bitel-browed having overhanging brows, probably from betylle, bitel beetle

Verb (2)

verbal derivative of beetle entry 4

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

circa 1919, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1602, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of beetle was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near beetle

Cite this Entry

“Beetle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beetle. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

beetle

1 of 3 noun
bee·​tle ˈbēt-ᵊl How to pronounce beetle (audio)
1
: any of an order of insects having four wings of which the first pair are stiff cases that fold over and protect the second pair when at rest
2
: any of various insects resembling a beetle

beetle

2 of 3 adjective
: sticking out and hanging over
beetle brows

beetle

3 of 3 verb
beetled; beetling
ˈbēt-(ə-)liŋ
: to stick out or hang over
beetling cliffs
Etymology

Noun

Old English bitula "beetle," from the root of bītan "to bite" — related to bite

Adjective

Middle English bitel-browed "having overhanging brows," probably from bitel, betylle "beetle," from Old English bitula "beetle"

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