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Ant

//ænt// name, noun, verb

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A diminutive of the male given name Anthony, from Latin.
  2. 2
    Initialism of Afghanistan National Television. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
  3. 3
    A river in Norfolk, England, tributary to the Bure.
  4. 4
    The 27th sura (chapter) of the Qur'an.
Noun
  1. 1
    Any of various insects in the family Formicidae in the order Hymenoptera, typically living in large colonies composed almost entirely of flightless females.

    "The San Juan market is Mexico City's most famous deli of exotic meats, where an adventurous shopper can hunt down hard-to-find critters […]. But the priciest items in the market aren't the armadillo steaks or even the bluefin tuna. That would be the frozen chicatanas – giant winged ants – at around $500 a kilo."

  2. 2
    Initialism of Aids to Navigation Team, as used in the United States Coast Guard. US, abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
  3. 3
    social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers wordnet
  4. 4
    A Web spider. Internet
  5. 5
    Abbreviation of actor–network theory. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, uncountable
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    Acronym of ambiguous nuclear transient. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of, countable, uncountable
Verb
  1. 1
    To rub insects, especially ants, on one's body, perhaps to control parasites or clean feathers.

    "Wild birds tend to ant and sunbathe most frequently during periods of high humidity, particularly right after heavy or prolonged rainfall in summer."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English ampte, amte, emete, amete, from Old English ǣmete (“ant”), from Proto-West Germanic *āmaitijā (literally “biting-thing, cutter”), from Proto-Germanic *ē- (“off, away”) + *maitaną (“to cut”), from Proto-Indo-European *meh₂y- (“to cut”). Cognate with Scots emmot (“ant”), dialectal Dutch emt, empt (“ant”), German Ameise and Emse (“ant”). See also emmet.

Etymology 2

From Middle English ampte, amte, emete, amete, from Old English ǣmete (“ant”), from Proto-West Germanic *āmaitijā (literally “biting-thing, cutter”), from Proto-Germanic *ē- (“off, away”) + *maitaną (“to cut”), from Proto-Indo-European *meh₂y- (“to cut”). Cognate with Scots emmot (“ant”), dialectal Dutch emt, empt (“ant”), German Ameise and Emse (“ant”). See also emmet.

Etymology 3

Shortening.

See also for "ant"

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