calligrapha

noun

cal·​lig·​ra·​pha

kəˈligrəfə,

ka-

plural -s

: a beetle of a genus (Calligrapha) of brightly marked foliage-eating beetles see elm calligrapha

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, genus of beetles, from calli- + -grapha (from Greek graphein to write)

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!