Entomology. belonging or pertaining to the order Diptera, comprising the houseflies, mosquitoes, and gnats, characterized by a single, anterior pair of membranous wings with the posterior pair reduced to small, knobbed structures.
2.
Botany. having two winglike appendages, as seeds or stems.
Origin
1765-75; < Neo-Latindipterus < Greekdípteros; see Diptera, -ous
Related forms
nondipterous, adjective
Examples from the web for dipterous
They may be reared by collecting lepidopterous and dipterous pupae.
British Dictionary definitions for dipterous
dipterous
/ˈdɪptərəs/
adjective
1.
Also dipteran. of, relating to, or belonging to the Diptera, a large order of insects having a single pair of wings and sucking or piercing mouthparts. The group includes flies, mosquitoes, craneflies, and midges
2.
(botany) having two winglike parts: a dipterous seed
Word Origin
C18: from New Latin, from Greek dipteros, from di- two + pteros wing
dipterous in Medicine
dipterous dip·ter·ous (dĭp'tər-əs) adj.
Of or characteristic of insects of the order Diptera.
Having two wings or winglike appendages.
dipterous in Science
dipteran
(dĭp'tər-ən) Any of various insects of the order Diptera, characterized by a single pair of membranous wings, a pair of club-shaped balancing organs, and large compound eyes. Dipterans include the flies, mosquitoes, midges, and gnats.