ant /ˈænt/
蟻,螞蟻
Ant n. Zool. A hymenopterous insect of the Linnæan genus Formica, which is now made a family of several genera; an emmet; a pismire.
Note: ☞ Among ants, as among bees, there are neuter or working ants, besides the males and females; the former are without wings. Ants live together in swarms, usually raising hillocks of earth, variously chambered within, where they maintain a perfect system of order, store their provisions, and nurture their young. There are many species, with diverse habits, as agricultural ants, carpenter ants, honey ants, foraging ants, amazon ants, etc. The white ants or Termites belong to the Neuroptera.
Ant bird Zool., one of a very extensive group of South American birds (Formicariidæ), which live on ants. The family includes many species, some of which are called ant shrikes, ant thrushes, and ant wrens.
Ant rice Bot., a species of grass (Aristida oligantha) cultivated by the agricultural ants of Texas for the sake of its seed.
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ant
n : social insect living in organized colonies;
characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings
during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the
workers [syn: emmet, pismire]
Ant
(Heb. nemalah, from a word meaning to creep, cut off, destroy),
referred to in Prov. 6:6; 30:25, as distinguished for its
prudent habits. Many ants in Palestine feed on animal
substances, but others draw their nourishment partly or
exclusively from vegetables. To the latter class belongs the ant
to which Solomon refers. This ant gathers the seeds in the
season of ripening, and stores them for future use; a habit that
has been observed in ants in Texas, India, and Italy.