Word Study
Elater
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun Elater has 1 sense
- elater(n = noun.animal) elaterid, elaterid beetle - any of various widely distributed beetles; Array is a kind of beetle
is a member of elateridae, family elateridae
has particulars: click beetle, skipjack, snapping beetle, fire beetle, firefly, pyrophorus noctiluca
CIDE DICTIONARY
Elater, n.
One who, or that which, elates. [1913 Webster]
Elater, n. [NL., fr. Gr. driver, fr. to drive.].
- An elastic spiral filament for dispersing the spores, as in some liverworts. [1913 Webster]
- Any beetle of the family
Elateridæ , having the habit, when laid on the back, of giving a sudden upward spring, by a quick movement of the articulation between the abdomen and thorax; -- called alsoclick beetle ,spring beetle , andsnapping beetle . [1913 Webster] - The caudal spring used by
Podura and related insects for leaping. See Collembola. [1913 Webster]
Elater, n.
The active principle of elaterium, being found in the juice of the wild or squirting cucumber (Ecballium agreste , formerly Motordica Elaterium ) and other related species. It is extracted as a bitter, white, crystalline substance, which is a violent purgative. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Elater, n. a click beetle.
Etymology
mod.L f. Gk elater driver f. elauno drive
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