water strider
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A water strider is a long-legged insect that moves across the surface of water. It is adapted to live on the water's surface film without breaking through it.
Usage
The term "water strider" is used to specifically identify this type of aquatic insect. It is a common name, not a scientific one. - We watched a water strider skate effortlessly across the pond. - The water strider's legs distribute its weight so it doesn't sink.
Advanced Usage
- As a subject of study: Water striders are often studied in biology and physics for their unique locomotion and surface tension adaptation.
- The research paper focused on the locomotion mechanics of the water strider.
Variants and Related Words
- Pond skater: A common synonym for water strider, used especially in British English.
- Jesus bug: An informal, colloquial name for a water strider, referring to its ability to "walk on water."
- Gerridae: The scientific family name for water striders.
Synonyms
- Pond skater
- Water skater
- Jesus bug (informal)
Related Idioms and Phrases
While there are no direct idioms using "water strider," its ability is metaphorically referenced. - To walk on water: An idiom meaning to perform an impossible or miraculous feat, conceptually related to the water strider's movement. - The new CEO is expected to walk on water and fix all the company's problems.
Noun
- long-legged bug that skims about on the surface of water