# beetle

/ˈbitəɫ/ (US) · /bˈiːtəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/beetle
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the insect

noun · CEFR A2

an insect with a hard, shell-like back that protects its wings.

For teachers: any of numerous insects of the order Coleoptera, characterized by hardened forewings that form a protective case.

- A shiny black beetle crawled across the garden path and disappeared under a leaf.
- The researcher identified several rare species of beetle living within the decaying logs of the ancient woodland.

### 2. the car

noun · CEFR B1

a small, rounded car originally made by Volkswagen.

For teachers: a popular compact car model produced by Volkswagen, noted for its distinctive rounded shape.

- My grandfather still drives an old blue Beetle that he bought in the seventies.
- The classic Volkswagen Beetle remains a cultural icon and a favourite among vintage car collectors worldwide.

### 3. to scurry

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

to move quickly or hurry away, like a small insect.

For teachers: to move in a hurried or scurrying manner; often used with 'off' or 'away'.

- As soon as the meeting ended, he beetled off to catch his train.
- The clerk beetled away to the archives to retrieve the requested documents before the office closed for the day.

### 4. protruding

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary

sticking out or hanging over something else.

For teachers: projecting or overhanging, most commonly used to describe eyebrows or cliffs.

- The old man looked at me from under his thick, beetle brows.
- The hikers sought shelter beneath a beetle crag as the storm clouds began to gather over the valley.

### 5. a heavy mallet

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Archaic

a heavy wooden hammer used for hitting things hard.

For teachers: a heavy wooden mallet used for driving wedges or beating fabric in industrial processes.

- The worker used a heavy beetle to drive the wooden stakes into the ground.
- In traditional textile mills, a mechanical beetle was employed to hammer the cloth and give it a smooth finish.

## Examples

- A black beetle crawled across the garden path.
- The gardener found a large beetle hiding under the damp leaves near the compost bin.
- The iridescent beetle, with its metallic green shell, sat motionless on the white flower petal, contrasting sharply with the soft petals.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.