Miastor

noun

Mi·​as·​tor
mīˈastə(r)
: a genus of flies (family Cecidomyiidae) that are remarkable for their parthenogenetic and paedogenetic reproduction by which the larva on hatching from the egg develops internally a brood of similar larvae that on escaping may repeat the process for several generations before pupation and development of mature individuals

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek miastōr one that defiles; akin to Greek miainein to defile

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!

Dictionary Entries Near Miastor

Cite this Entry

“Miastor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Miastor. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!