cercus

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noun

A structure on the end of the abdomen of most insects, sometimes long, hairlike sensory organs and sometimes smaller and rigid.

Similar
cercopod
OriginNew Latin cercus ← Ancient Greek κέρκος →
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Meanings

nouncercus (plural cerci)

plural cerci

  1. biologyA structure on the end of the abdomen of most insects, sometimes long, hairlike sensory organs and sometimes smaller and rigid.

    Synonyms: cercopod

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA structure on the end of the abdomen of most insects, sometimes long, hairlike sensory organs and sometimes smaller and rigid.

Similar
cercopod

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekκέρκος“tail”
  2. New Latincercus
  3. Englishcercus

From New Latin cercus, from Ancient Greek κέρκος (kérkos, “tail”).

More words from New Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French cerque
  • cerquehair-like structure

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with cercus

circusLupercus
All rhymes →

Anagrams

cruces
Cite this entry
APA

cercus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cercus

MLA

“cercus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cercus. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cercus,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cercus.

Source: cercus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.