any scarabaeid beetle, esp Scarabaeus sacer (sacred scarab), regarded by the ancient Egyptians as divine
2.
the scarab as represented on amulets, etc, of ancient Egypt, or in hieroglyphics as a symbol of the solar deity
Word origin
C16: from Latin scarabaeus; probably related to Greek karabos horned beetle
scarab in American English
(ˈskærəb)
noun
1.
any of a large family (Scarabaeidae) of mostly stout-bodied, often brilliantly colored beetles with lamellicorn antennae, including the June bugs, cockchafers, and dung beetles
2.
a.
the black, winged dung beetle (Scarabaeus sacer) held sacred by the ancient Egyptians
b.
an image of this beetle, cut from a stone or gem, often engraved with religious or historical inscriptions on the flat underside and, formerly, esp. in ancient Egypt, worn as a charm or used as a seal
Word origin
Fr scarabée < L scarabaeus, altered < ? Gr karabos, a horned beetle, crayfish
Examples of 'scarab' in a sentence
scarab
It sat there like some leech or scarab that nothing could shake off
Stewart, Michael COMPULSION (2000)
The word " scarab " had roused Emerson from his meditations.