ScienceAugust 18, 2026

antennal

an-TEN-uhl

Definition

Relating to or pertaining to the antennae, which are the sensory appendages on the heads of insects and other arthropods.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'antenna', originally referring to the yard of a ship's mast, which was later adopted in the 18th century to describe the feelers of insects due to their physical resemblance.

In the news

The word describes the complex architecture of the beetle's sensory organs, highlighting how its unique structure helps researchers understand how the insect communicated.

100-Million-Year-Old Beetle Preserved In Amber Has A Structure That Scientists Have Never Seen Before In Any Animal Living Or Extinct

Read the full article ↗

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