insect
n. countablen. a small animal with six legs and a body made of three parts. Most have wings and a hard outer shell.
n. a small arthropod animal of the class Insecta, characterized by a three-part body, three pairs of jointed legs, and typically one or two pairs of wings.
An ant is a common type of insect.
The gardener noticed that a small insect was eating the leaves of the rose bushes.
While many people find every insect repulsive, these creatures play a vital role in the ecosystem by pollinating crops and breaking down organic waste.
From Middle French insecte, from Latin īnsectum, from īnsectus (“cut into, cut up, with a notched or divided body”), from perfect passive participle of īnsecō (“to cut into, 𐌕𐌏 cut up”), from in- + secō (“to cut”), from the notion that the insect's body is "cut into" three sections (head, thorax, abdomen). Calque of Ancient Greek ἔντομον (éntomon, “insect”), from ἔντομος (éntomos, “cut into pieces”).
In common speech, people often use this word for any small crawling creature, but in science, it only refers to those with six legs.