insect

Universal Words noun any small creature with six legs and a body divided into three parts. Insects usually also have wings. ANTS, bees and flies are all insects: insect pests / larvae / species * insect repellent (= a chemical that keeps insects away) * an insect bite * The pesticide is lethal to all insect life. seealsoSTICKINSECT HELPNOTE Insect is often used to refer to other small crawling creatures, for example spiders, although this is not correct scientific language.