World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesDung beetle
/ˈdʌŋ ˌbiː.təl/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A beetle that feeds on feces and often rolls it into a ball for food or to store eggs.
"The dung beetle rolled the ball of manure across the savanna to a safe burrow." - 2
A derogatory term sometimes used informally in German contexts (Pillendreher) for a tedious person or an apothecary.
"Historically, apothecaries who rolled medicinal pills were sometimes colloquially compared to these insects."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from Old English 'dung' (excrement) combined with Middle English 'betel', from Old English 'bitela' (little biter or beetle). Historically documented across Germanic and Anglo-Saxon traditions reflecting the insect's characteristic behavior of rolling dung into spherical balls.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Dung beetle"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Dung beetle" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
bousier
Transliteration: buzje
"Le bousier roule une boule d'excréments sur le sol."
Pillendreher
Transliteration: ˈpɪlənˌdʁeːɐ̯
"Der Pillendreher rollt geschickt seine Kotkugel über den Sand."
stercorario
Transliteration: sterkoraːrjo
"Lo stercorario è noto per il suo comportamento unico."
escarabajo pelotero
Transliteration: eskaraˈbaxo peloˈteɾo
"El escarabajo pelotero desempeña un papel vital en el ecosistema."
rola-bosta
Transliteration: ˈhɔlɐ ˈbɔstɐ
"O rola-bosta empurra a bola de esterco com as patas traseiras."
गोबरैला
Transliteration: gobaraila
"गोबरैला कीट गोबर के गोले को गोल-गोल घुमाता है।"
蜣螂
Transliteration: qiāng láng
"蜣螂在草原上清理动物的粪便。"
소똥구리
Transliteration: sottongguri
"소똥구리는 똥을 둥글게 말아서 굴립니다."
フンコロガシ
Transliteration: funkorogashi
"フンコロガシは動物の糞を球状にして転がします。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
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The head or manager of an organization, institution, or department.
A person whose job is to amuse or interest an audience, such as a comedian, actor, or singer.
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