beetle — English Dictionary

Noun

1. Any of numerous species of insect in the order Coleoptera characterized by a pair of hard, shell-like front wings which cover and protect a pair of rear wings when at rest.

2. A game of chance in which players attempt to complete a drawing of a beetle, different dice rolls allowing them to add the various body parts.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Guessing competitions were tackled with much enthusiasm, followed by a beetle drive, and judging by the laughter, this was popular with all.

Verb

1. To move (away) quickly, to scurry away.

   Related words

   bugchaferfireflyladybirdscarab

   Examples

   He beetled off on his vacation.

   I beetled across to our table, but no Pauline, no Mr Cresswell, no Mr Rudyard.

   More examples (3)

   “[…] But he seems to have beetled off somewhere as usual. […]”

   In the falling darkness Harry saw small collections of lights as they passed over more villages, then a winding road on which a single car was beetling its way home through the hills. …

   Her eyes still closed, his aunt smiled cruelly. “I know what you are dying to say, Bertie. Go ahead—take the cheap shot. I’ll squash you like the nasty little bug you are.” ¶ Thus chastened, the little man beetled away.

Adjective

1. Protruding, jutting, overhanging.

   Examples

   beetle brows

Verb

1. To loom over; to extend or jut (above).

   Usage

   • Transitive or intransitive

   Examples

   The heavy chimney beetled over the thatched roof.

   To the dreadful summit of the cliff / That beetles o'er his base into the sea.

   More examples (5)

   Each beetling rampart, and each tower sublime.

   I was indeed gently affected, and shared his fears, remembering well the bulging walls of the old house, and the toppling mass of heavy chimney work which beetled over the roof, beneath which these poor doves had made their nest.

   He stood a barehead boy upon a cliff / Pine-crowned, that hung high beetling a bleak north sea, / His long bright hair did stream like yellow silk, […]

   Impelled by some obscure quest, I ascended a rift or cleft in this beetling precipice, noting as I did so the black mouths of many fearsome burrows extending from both walls into the depths of the stony plateau.

   By the power of an imperious spirit, Peter was able to extend his meagre five feet two in space by expanding his chest, cocking his crest, inflating his whiskers, and beetling his brows.

Noun

1. A type of mallet with a large wooden head, used to drive wedges, beat pavements, etc.

2. A machine in which fabrics are subjected to a hammering process while passing over rollers, as in cotton mills; a beetling machine.

Verb

1. To beat with a heavy mallet.

2. To finish by subjecting to a hammering process in a beetle or beetling machine.

   Examples

   to beetle cotton goods

Adjective

1. jutting or overhanging

   Synonyms

   beetling

   Examples

   beetle brows

Noun

1. insect having biting mouthparts and front wings modified to form horny covers overlying the membranous rear wings

   Broader terms

   insect

2. a tool resembling a hammer but with a large head (usually wooden); used to drive wedges or ram down paving stones or for crushing or beating or flattening or smoothing

   Synonyms

   mallet

   Broader terms

   hammer

Verb

1. be suspended over or hang over

   Synonyms

   overhang

   Broader terms

   hang

   Examples

   This huge rock beetles over the edge of the town

2. fly or go in a manner resembling a beetle

   Broader terms

   travelgomovelocomote

   Examples

   He beetled up the staircase

   They beetled off home

3. beat with a beetle

   Broader terms

   beat