| 释义 |
bee·tle
I. \ˈbēd.əl, -ētəl\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English bityl, betylle, from Old English bitula, from bītan to bite — more at bite
1. : an insect of the order Coleoptera — sometimes distinguished from weevil
2. : any of various insects (as cockroaches) more or less resembling those of the order Coleoptera especially in being of large size and dark color — not used technically
II. intransitive verb
(beetled ; beetled ; beetling \-ēd.əliŋ, -ēt(ə)liŋ\ ; beetles)
: to scuttle like a beetle either with speed or with awkward bumbling
< while the heavy buses beetle past — Thomas Wolfe >
III. noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English betel, from Old English bīetel, from bēatan to beat — more at beat
1. : a heavy wooden hammering or ramming instrument for driving stakes, tamping paving blocks, and performing similar heavy tasks of pounding
2. : a wooden pestle or bat for such domestic tasks as beating linen and mashing potatoes
3. : a machine for giving cotton and linen fabrics a compact appearance and a lustrous finish (as by hammering over rollers)
IV. \“; for pres part see beetle II\ transitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
: to flatten and compact (a fabric) in a beetle
V. adjective
Etymology: Middle English bitel- (as in bitel-browed beetle-browed)
: prominent and overhanging — usually used of eyebrows with suggestion of lowering sullenness
VI. \“; for pres part see beetle II\ intransitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
: to project, overhang, jut, or loom often ominously or threateningly
< the dark heavy brows beetling in a frown — Ellen Glasgow >
< spending my strength in vain to scale the beetling crags — R.L.Stevenson >
Synonyms: see bulge |