: any of an order or suborder (Mantodea and especially family Mantidae) of large usually green insects that feed on other insects and clasp their prey in forelimbs held up as if in prayer
Illustration of mantis
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebTurning the conversation to his pride in his teammates is as familiar a Horford move as one of his praying-mantis corner threes. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2022 Instead, the focus is on insects of various sorts — a mantis, flies, numerous others; no designations are given — moving and buzzing against a white cloth background under harsh artificial light.BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2021 But new research adds a strange anatomical wrinkle to the love life of an Amazonian species called the dragon mantis. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Apr. 2021 Right now, this dead leaf mantis is the size of an ant.cincinnati.com, 30 Apr. 2021 To inflate this smelly love balloon, the mantis pumps it full of a fluid called hemolymph, which is a bit like blood for invertebrates. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Apr. 2021 The Congo green mantis opens its mouth, shows its colorful forelegs and spreads its wings. Cara Giaimo, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2020 Without hesitating, the hornet rushed the mantis and bit off its head. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 27 May 2020 Watch this one-minute video, from a 2013 Times article, that documents how cheetahs hunt their prey:Then, rewatch the video of the preying mantis and answer the following questions:What is similar about how each animal captures its prey? Nicole Daniels, New York Times, 15 May 2020 See More
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Greek, literally, diviner, prophet; akin to Greek mainesthai to be mad — more at mania