white ant

white ant
Termite Ter"mite, n.; pl. {Termites}. [F. See {Termes}.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of pseudoneoropterous insects belonging to {Termes} and allied genera; -- called also {white ant}. See Illust. of {White ant}. [1913 Webster]

Note: They are very abundant in tropical countries, and are noted for their destructive habits, their large nests, their remarkable social instincts, and their division of labor among the polymorphic individuals of several kinds. Besides the males and females, each nest has ordinary workers, and large-headed individuals called soldiers. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • White ant — White White (hw[imac]t), a. [Compar. {Whiter} (hw[imac]t [ e]r); superl. {Whitest}.] [OE. whit, AS. hw[imac]t; akin to OFries. and OS. hw[=i]t, D. wit, G. weiss, OHG. w[=i]z, hw[=i]z, Icel. hv[=i]tr, Sw. hvit, Dan. hvid, Goth. hweits, Lith.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • white ant — noun count a TERMITE …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • white ant — white′ ant′ n. ent termite • Etymology: 1675–85 …   From formal English to slang

  • white ant — n. TERMITE …   English World dictionary

  • white-ant — ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ transitive verb ( ed/ ing/ s) Etymology: white ant : to wreck or take over surreptitiously as if by the boring of termites : undermine by underhanded means the popular front was white anted by a Communist minority …   Useful english dictionary

  • white-ant — /ˈwaɪt ænt/ (say wuyt ant) verb (t) Colloquial to subvert or undermine from within (an organisation or enterprise). –white anter, noun –white anting, noun …  

  • white ant — /ˈwaɪt ænt/ (say wuyt ant) noun 1. any of various species of wood eating isopterous insects which, like ants, exhibit social organisation and often form enormous moist colonies; destructive of trees, wooden fences, houses, etc.; termite. –phrase… …  

  • white-ant — /hwuyt ant , wuyt /, v.t. Australian Informal. to undermine or subvert from within. [1915 20] * * * …   Universalium

  • white ant — noun whitish soft bodied ant like social insect that feeds on wood • Syn: ↑termite • Hypernyms: ↑insect • Hyponyms: ↑dry wood termite, ↑Reticulitermes flanipes, ↑Reticulitermes lucifugus, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • white ant — noun Date: 1684 termite …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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