dipteran

D2I1P3T1E1R1A1N1
/ˈdɪp.təɹ.ən/

noun

An insect of the large order Diptera; a fly.

Similar
dipterous insecttwo-winged insectsdipteron
Origintranslingual Diptera →
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Meanings

noundipteran (plural dipterans)

plural dipterans

  1. biologyAn insect of the large order Diptera; a fly.
adjectivedipteran (not comparable)
  1. not comparablebiologyRelating to or denoting dipterans.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouninsects having usually a single pair of functional wings (anterior pair) with the posterior pair reduced to small knobbed structures and mouth parts adapted for sucking or lapping or piercing

Similar
dipterous insecttwo-winged insectsdipteron
Broader
insect
Also see
dipteron

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. translingualDiptera
  2. Englishdipteran

PIE word *dwóh₁ Immediately from translingual Diptera + -an, for denoting taxonomic specification, as opposed to instances where "fly" is used informally. From Ancient Greek δίπτερος (dípteros, “two-winged”) + -an, from δι- (di-, “two, di-”) + πτερόν (pterón, “feather, wing”) + -ος (-os, “adjectival suffix”).

More words from translingual

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan dípter, diptèric
  • díptermember of Diptera
  • diptèricrelating to dipterans
Dutch tweevleugelige
  • tweevleugeligemember of Diptera
Estonian kahetiivaline
  • kahetiivalinemember of Diptera
Finnish kaksisiipinen, kaksisiipinen
  • kaksisiipinenmember of Diptera
  • kaksisiipinenrelating to dipterans
French diptérique
  • diptériquerelating to dipterans
German Zweiflügler
  • Zweiflüglermember of Diptera
Italian dittero
  • ditteromember of Diptera
Latin dipterum
  • dipterummember of Diptera
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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