Alate
/ˈeɪˌleɪt/ adj, adv, noun
adj, adv, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A winged, reproductive form of several social insects.
Adjective
- 1 Having wings or winglike extensions or parts; winged.
"Beetles fly, many ants send forth massive swarms of reproductive alate females and males, arachnids and insect predators emerge from their hidden refugia, and termite swarm."
Adjective
- 1 (of seeds or insects) having winglike extensions wordnet
Adverb
- 1 recently; lately; of late. archaic, not-comparable
"There hathe bene alate ſuche tales ſpreade abroade, and moſt vntruly, ſuch falſe taletellers ſhal haue a greuous puniſhement of the Lord whan he ſhall come to rewarde euerye one according vnto his deſertes."
Antonyms
All antonymsExample
More examples"Beetles fly, many ants send forth massive swarms of reproductive alate females and males, arachnids and insect predators emerge from their hidden refugia, and termite swarm."
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Latin ālātus, from āla (“wing”).
Etymology 2
From a- + late.