collembolan

1 of 2

noun

col·​lem·​bo·​lan kə-ˈlem-bə-lən 

: springtail

collembolan adjective

or collembolous

kə-ˈlem-bə-ləs 

Collembola

2 of 2

plural noun

Col·​lem·​bo·​la

kə-ˈlem-bə-lə

: an order of small primitively wingless arthropods that are related to or sometimes classed among the true insects, are characterized by presence of a collophore on the first abdominal segment, not more than 6 abdominal segments, 3 pairs of legs, and usually a forked caudal furcula, are found especially in soil rich in organic debris or on the surface of snow or water, and comprise the springtails

collembolous

kə-ˈlem-bə-ləs 

adjective

Examples of collembolan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For the most part, the critters eat insects and collembolans, a soft-bodied hexapod. —Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, 16 Mar. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Noun

ultimately from coll- + Greek embolos wedge, stopper — more at embolus

Plural noun

New Latin, from coll- + -embola (from Greek embolos, embolon peg, wedge); from their collophore

First Known Use

Noun

1873, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for collembolan

• megacolon
• mesocolon
• semicolon
• colin
• solan
• stolen
• stolon
• swollen
• tolan