diptera
NounSynonyms:
order Diptera
Open English WordNet
Noun (1)
- a large order of insects having a single pair of wings and sucking or piercing mouths; includes true flies and mosquitoes and gnats and crane fliesSynonyms: order DipteraType of animal orderMember of Insecta, class InsectaMembers fly, Oestridae, Bombyliidae, Drosophilidae, Gasterophilidae, Haematobia, Asilidae, Cecidomyidae +12 more
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Dip′te·ra plural noun
Origin: NL., fr. Gr. … with two wings, δι- = δίς- twice + … feather, wing: cf. F. diptère.
Zoology An extensive order of insects having only two functional wings and two balancers, as the house fly, mosquito, etc. They have a suctorial proboscis, often including two pairs of sharp organs (mandibles and maxillæ) with which they pierce the skin of animals. They undergo a complete metamorphosis, their larvæ (called maggots) being usually without feet.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54