scarab

noun

scar·​ab ˈsker-əb How to pronounce scarab (audio)
ˈska-rəb
1
: any of a family (Scarabaeidae) of stout-bodied beetles (such as a dung beetle) with lamellate or fan-shaped antennae
2
: a stone or faience beetle used in ancient Egypt as a talisman, ornament, and a symbol of resurrection

Examples of scarab in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And the scarab was one of their most important symbols, used to show that one could be reborn again in the same way that the sun rises each morning. Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024 The scarab activates and attaches itself to his face, to everyone's horror—yep, just like the face huggers in Alien. Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 3 Apr. 2023 The renovations also have entailed restoring the auditorium ceiling and Egyptian scarab at the proscenium, removing the balcony and acoustic panels, and reducing the number of seats by 100 to 516. Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Nov. 2023 Giant scarabs have been getting under man's skin both literally and figuratively since antiquity in The Mummy, and if cutting a large beetle out from one's bicep isn't icky enough, the swarm of locusts will send shivers down any spine. Sarah Sprague, EW.com, 19 Oct. 2023 Milagro opens the box at home, and the scarab fuses with her brother. Odie Henderson, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2023 Long story short, Jenny steals the scarab and passes it to Jaime for safekeeping. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2023 With strict instructions to not open the box the scarab is hiding in, Jaime returns home where his family coerces him to peek inside. Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 16 Aug. 2023 Two Beetles for the price of one is a pretty good deal in the superhero movie, which debuts Xolo Maridueña's Latino do-gooder Jaime Reyes, who is given superhuman abilities and a cool armor suit by an alien scarab. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 20 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scarab.' 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

Middle French scarabee, from Latin scarabaeus

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of scarab was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near scarab

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

scarab

noun
scar·​ab ˈskar-əb How to pronounce scarab (audio)
1
: any of a family of large stout beetles (as a dung beetle)
2
: an ornament or a gem made to represent a scarab
especially : one used in ancient Egypt as a symbol of eternal life

More from Merriam-Webster on scarab

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!