meloid: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowScientific/Technical
Quick answer
What does “meloid” mean?
A beetle of the family Meloidae, which includes blister beetles and Spanish flies.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A beetle of the family Meloidae, which includes blister beetles and Spanish flies.
Any insect belonging to the family Meloidae, characterized by the secretion of a caustic substance, cantharidin, which causes blistering on skin.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage between regions.
Connotations
Purely technical/scientific in both.
Frequency
Equally rare in both dialects, confined to specialist literature.
Grammar
How to Use “meloid” in a Sentence
The [noun] is a meloid.Researchers classified the beetle as a meloid.Meloids secrete cantharidin.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meloid” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The meloid specimen was carefully pinned.
- Meloid taxonomy is complex.
American English
- The meloid specimen was carefully pinned.
- Meloid taxonomy is complex.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in entomology, zoology, and agricultural science (as pests).
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Primary context; precise taxonomic classification.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meloid”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meloid”
- Mispronunciation: /məˈlɔɪd/ or /ˈmɛləd/.
- Using as a general term for any beetle.
- Misspelling as 'meliod' or 'melloid'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency technical term used almost exclusively in entomology.
No, 'meloid' refers to the beetle itself. Cantharidin is the chemical compound secreted by many meloids.
They can be. Handling them without care may cause skin blistering due to their defensive secretion, but they are not aggressively harmful.
Yes, 'Spanish fly' (Lytta vesicatoria) is one of the most famous species within the meloid family.
A beetle of the family Meloidae, which includes blister beetles and Spanish flies.
Meloid is usually scientific/technical in register.
Meloid: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmiːlɔɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmiˌlɔɪd/ or /ˈmɛlɔɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ME-LOID' sounds like 'MEAL' (which some beetles eat) and 'OID' (meaning 'resembling'). A beetle resembling something that might be in your meal?
Practice
Quiz
What is a defining characteristic of a meloid?