springtail

noun

spring·​tail ˈspriŋ-ˌtāl How to pronounce springtail (audio)
: any of an order (Collembola) of small primitive wingless arthropods that are either classified as insects or are placed in a related class (Entognatha), that have internal mouthparts enclosed in folds of the head, usually possess a furcula used for jumping, exhibit incomplete metamorphosis, feed especially on fungi and decaying vegetation, and are typically found in moist or wet surroundings (such as soil, on the surface of water or melting snow, or in caves)

called also collembolan

Examples of springtail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The spores were then able to pass through the springtail’s digestive tracts and emerge ready for action from the other end. Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 12 June 2025 The mechanism is complicated, but here’s the gist: A lot of things that salamanders eat, including springtails and beetle larvae, chew up leaves on the forest floor. Benji Jones, Vox, 18 June 2024 The reason that the spider can survive this high up remains somewhat of a mystery, although it is known to eat flies and springtails for nourishment. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 6 Feb. 2024 That list would certainly include springtails, sowbugs, pillbugs, millipedes, slugs, fungi and others. oregonlive, 26 Aug. 2023 Engineers at Georgia Tech are the first to study the mechanics of springtails, which leap in the water to avoid predators. IEEE Spectrum, 25 Nov. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1781, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of springtail was in 1781

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Cite this Entry

“Springtail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/springtail. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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