1
: any of an order (Coleoptera) of insects having four wings of which the outer pair are modified into stiff elytra that protect the inner pair when at rest
2
: any of various insects resembling a beetle
1
: a heavy wooden hammering or ramming instrument
2
: a wooden pestle or bat for domestic tasks
: being prominent and overhanging
beetle brows
Synonyms
Examples of beetle in a Sentence
Verb (2)
houses in the town commonly have second stories that beetle over the ground floors, and the overhang is known as a "bump"
Recent Examples on the Web
Tom Kilgore, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
On the North Shore, about 80 trees are slated for removal because of the beetle, the station reported.
—CBS News, 24 Oct. 2024
Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2022
Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 28 Nov. 2023
See all Example Sentences for beetle 
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Noun
Due to a certain beetle that comes out this time of year and helps spread the fungus, February through June is typically the highest risk of new infections.
—Tom Kilgore, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
On the North Shore, about 80 trees are slated for removal because of the beetle, the station reported.
—CBS News, 24 Oct. 2024
Adjective
So the annual allowable cut was reduced below pre-beetle-kill levels in 2015.
—Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2022
Verb
Black-and-yellow taxis beetled along Apollo Bunder, the road in front of the hotel.
—Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 28 Nov. 2023
See all Example Sentences for beetle
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Dictionary Entries Near beetle
Cite this Entry
“Beetle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beetle. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
beetle
1 of 3 noun
bee·tle
ˈbēt-ᵊl 
1
: any of an order of insects having four wings of which the first pair are stiff cases that fold over and protect the second pair when at rest
2
: any of various insects resembling a beetle
beetle
2 of 3 adjective
: sticking out and hanging over
beetle brows
beetle
3 of 3 verb
beetled; beetling
ˈbēt-(ə-)liŋ
: to stick out or hang over
beetling cliffs
Etymology
Noun
Old English bitula "beetle," from the root of bītan "to bite" — related to bite
Adjective
Middle English bitel-browed "having overhanging brows," probably from bitel, betylle "beetle," from Old English bitula "beetle"
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