scorpion

n. a small creature with eight legs, two large pincers, and a curved tail that has a poisonous sting.

n. any arachnid of the order Scorpiones, characterized by a segmented tail ending in a venomous stinger and a pair of grasping pedipalps.

“The hikers were careful to shake out their boots in case a scorpion had crawled inside.”

“Desert-dwelling scorpions are primarily nocturnal, using their sensitive pincers to detect vibrations from potential prey in the sand.”

n. the constellation Scorpius or a person born under the Scorpio star sign.

n. the eighth sign of the zodiac, Scorpius, or an individual born under this astrological influence.

“My sister is a scorpion, so her birthday is in early November.”

“The astronomer pointed out the bright red star Antares, which marks the heart of the scorpion in the southern sky.”

n. a person who is very mean, cruel, or wants to hurt others.

n. a person perceived as particularly spiteful, vindictive, or malicious in character.

“He was a real scorpion who enjoyed watching his rivals fail.”

“The protagonist realized too late that his business partner was a scorpion, waiting for the perfect moment to strike and seize the company.”

Literary

n. an old military machine used long ago to throw large stones or arrows.

n. a historical siege engine or catapult used in ancient warfare for discharging missiles.

“The Roman army used a scorpion to fire heavy bolts at the enemy walls.”

“Archaeologists discovered the iron remains of a scorpion, providing new evidence of the defensive capabilities of the ancient fortress.”

Archaic · Technical