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stick insect
noun
: any of various usually wingless phasmid insects (especially family Phasmatidae) with a long cylindrical body resembling a stick
broadly
: phasmid
Examples of stick insect in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Lord Howe Island stick insect—once a pervasive fixture on the island—was declared extinct on the main island by 1920.
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Scott Travers, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
The Lord Howe Island stick insect’s comeback highlights nature’s ability to survive against all odds.
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Scott Travers, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
As a result, boobies, shearwaters, petrels, and other seabirds have recovered, and island creatures from lizards to stick insects have reclaimed their homes.
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Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 19 Sep. 2024
Snowshoe hares melt seamlessly into a wintry landscape, octopuses alter their skin color to match surrounding hues, and stick insects become indistinguishable from the twigs around them.
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Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 9 Sep. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1826, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near stick insect
Cite this Entry
“Stick insect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stick%20insect. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
stick insect
noun
: any of various usually wingless insects that have a long body resembling a stick
called also walking stick
More from Merriam-Webster on stick insect
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stick insect
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