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Termite

noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A white-bodied, wood-consuming insect of the infraorder Isoptera, in the order Blattodea.

    "Linnæus describes this insect under the Latin name of Termes; and citizen Cuvier speaks of it under that of Termites. The vulgar call it by that of white ant, or fourmi vaguevague. The termites divide themselves into societies: each society builds itself a next, and each nest belongs to an innumerable quantity of these insects, who acknowledge for their chiefs a king and a queen."

  2. 2
    whitish soft-bodied ant-like social insect that feeds on wood wordnet
  3. 3
    A contemptible person.

    "This two faced termite has the nerve to talk."

Verb
  1. 1
    Of a chimpanzee: to catch termites by inserting a stick or vine into their nest and waiting for them to climb up it. intransitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

Inferred singular of termites, the plural of Latin termes (“woodworm”), which was used for termites by Linnaeus.

Etymology 2

Inferred singular of termites, the plural of Latin termes (“woodworm”), which was used for termites by Linnaeus.

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