termiticadj.
/təːˈmɪtɪk/, /təˈmɪtɪk/, U.S. /tərˈmɪdɪk/ Of, relating to, or characteristic of termites; made by termites. Also figurative, esp. with reference to the destructive habits of termites.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > subclass Pterygota > [adjective] > hemimetabolous > of order Isoptera > of or relating to termites
termitic1842
1842 Trans. Royal Entomol. Soc. 3 146 As far as is known, it [sc. copim] appears to be an extract of wood acted upon by termitic acid.
1881 A. Elwes tr. A. de S. Pinto How I crossed Afr. I. v. 121 A soil..of termitic formation.
1898 E. P. Evans Evol. Ethics vi. 211 Ninety-nine hundredths of the population [of a mound of termites] devote themselves to industry and only one hundredth to arms, thus indicating an advanced state of termitic civilization.
1945 College Art Jrnl. 5 38 We who love..the illustrations in books, fine printing, good paper, precious bindings—we know how the termitic library-school trained librarian manages to put his or her indelible imprint onto, into and all around the object of his or her charge.
1997 Plant Ecol. 132 226/1 During severe droughts sealing [of the soil surface] may also cause an increased mortality of isolated woody individuals in the immediate vicinity of eroded termitic mounds.
2001 D. Koontz One Door away from Heaven xlix. 407 In the instant, a termitic loneliness ate away the core of Leilani's heart.
2010 G. Stoopes et al. Interpr. Micromorphol. Features Soils & Regoliths xv. 336 The coatings appear to be built by regular packing, layer by layer, of termitic pellets.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1842