Definition of termite Termite
/tɚˈmajt/ - [termayt] - ter•mite
We found 7 definitions of termite from 7 different sources.
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What does termite mean?
WordNet
NounPlural: termites |
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| termite - whitish soft-bodied ant-like social insect that feeds on wood | ||
| white ant | ||
| insect small air-breathing arthropod | ||
| isoptera, order isoptera order of social insects that live in colonies, including: termites; often placed in subclass Exopterygota | ||
| dry-wood termite any of various termites that live in and feed on dry wood that is not connected with the soil | ||
| reticulitermes flanipes destructive United States termite | ||
| reticulitermes lucifugus destructive European termite | ||
| mastotermes darwiniensis Australian termite; sole living species of Mastotermes; called a living fossil; apparent missing link between cockroaches and termites | ||
| mastotermes electromexicus an extinct termite found in amber in southern Mexico | ||
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Wiktionary 
Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘
- termite (n.)
Any one of numerous species of pseudoneoropterous insects belonging to Termes and allied genera; -- called also white ant. See Illust. of White ant.
OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω
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termite
A soft-bodied insect of the order Isoptera; individuals feed on cellulose and live in colonies with a caste system comprising three types of functional individuals: sterile workers and soldiers, and the reproductives.
Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕
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termite
ter′mīt, n. the white ant.—ns. Termitā′rium, Ter′mitary, a mound of termites.—adj. Ter′mitine. [L. termes, termitis, a wood-worm.]
Wikipedia 
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Termites are a group of social insects. They are sometimes incorrectly called "white ants". Usually they are classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera. As truly social animals, they are termed "eusocial" along with the ants and some bees and wasps. Termites mostly feed on dead plant material, mostly wood, leaf litter, soil, or animal dung. About 10% of the estimated 4,000 species (about 2,600 taxonomically known) are economically significant as pests that can cause serious structural damage to buildings, crops or plantation forests. Termites are major detrivores, particularly in the subtropical and tropical regions. Their recycling of wood and other plant matter is very important for ecology.
As eusocial insects, termites live in colonies that, at maturity, number from several hundred to several million individuals. They are a prime example of decentralised, self-organised systems using swarm intelligence and use this cooperation to exploit food sources and environments that could not be available to any single insect acting alone. A typical colony contains nymphs (semi-mature young), workers, soldiers, and reproductive individuals of both genders, sometimes containing several egg-laying queens.
Part of speech
🔤- termite, noun, singular of termites.
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