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carpenter ant
noun
: an ant (especially genus Camponotus) that gnaws galleries especially in dead or decaying wood
Examples of carpenter ant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
However, carpenter ants, amongst other communities, have lost this ability due to evolution.
—Jennifer Vilcarino, ABC News, 3 July 2024
But the Florida carpenter ant (Camponotus floridanus)—a centimeter-long insect native to the southern United States—lost that gland over evolutionary time.
—Byhumberto Basilio, science.org, 2 July 2024
But over time, some species — including Camponotus floridanus, also known as carpenter ants — have evolutionarily lost them.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 3 July 2024
Florida carpenter ants were observed performing surgery on each other.
—Jennifer Vilcarino, ABC News, 3 July 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1883, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near carpenter ant
Cite this Entry
“Carpenter ant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carpenter%20ant. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
carpenter ant
noun
: any of several ants that nest and gnaw passageways in dead or decaying wood
More from Merriam-Webster on carpenter ant
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about carpenter ant
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