Definitions for: Elater

[n] any of various widely distributed beetles

Webster (1913) Definition: E*lat"er, n.
One who, or that which, elates.

El"a*ter, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? driver, fr. ? to drive.]
1. (Bot.) An elastic spiral filament for dispersing the
spores, as in some liverworts.

2. (Zo["o]l.) Any beetle of the family Elaterid[ae], having
the habit, when laid on the back, of giving a sudden
upward spring, by a quick movement of the articulation
between the abdomen and thorax; -- called also {click
beetle}, spring beetle, and snapping beetle.

3. (Zo["o]l.) The caudal spring used by Podura and related
insects for leaping. See Collembola.

El"a*ter, n. (Chem.)
The active principle of elaterium, being found in the juice
of the wild or squirting cucumber (Ecballium agreste,
formerly Motordica Elaterium) and other related species. It
is extracted as a bitter, white, crystalline substance, which
is a violent purgative.

Synonyms: elaterid, elaterid beetle

See Also: beetle, click beetle, Elateridae, family Elateridae, fire beetle, firefly, Pyrophorus noctiluca, skipjack, snapping beetle

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