metathorax

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noun

The hindmost of the three sections of the thorax of an insect, carrying the posterior pair of legs and the hindwings when present.

“Holonym: thorax”

OriginEnglish thorax ← Ancient Greek μετᾰ- (metă-) →
Scrabble 22
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Meanings

nounmetathorax (plural metathoraxes or metathoraces)

plural metathoraxes · plural metathoraces

  1. biologyThe hindmost of the three sections of the thorax of an insect, carrying the posterior pair of legs and the hindwings when present.

    Holonym: thorax

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekμετᾰ́ (metắ)
  2. Ancient Greekμετᾰ- (metă-)
  3. Englishmeta-
  4. Englishthorax
  5. Englishmetathorax

From meta- + thorax.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Czech zadohruď
  • zadohruďthe hindmost of the three sections of the thorax of an insect
Cite this entry
APA

metathorax. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/metathorax

MLA

“metathorax.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/metathorax. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “metathorax,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/metathorax.

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