insectlike en · ADJ
Etymology
Etymology tree English insect Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-West Germanic *-līk Old English -līċ Middle English -like English -like English insectlike From insect + -like.
Meanings
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Resembling an insect in any of various attributes such as form, behavior, or sound
The name captured […] the sound of the cars themselves, a high-pitched, insectlike whine — the sound of constant speed.
2009 January 19, Susan Dominus, “Brooklyn’s Buzz-a-Rama is Heaven for Slot-Car Fans”, in New York Times:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most insectlike | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| insect-like | alternative | lexicographic | |
| more insectlike | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |