wide-rostrate
|wide-ro-strate|
🇺🇸
/ˈwaɪdˌroʊstreɪt/
🇬🇧
/ˈwaɪdˌrɒstreɪt/
having a wide beak
Etymology
'wide-rostrate' is a modern English compound of 'wide' + 'rostrate'. 'rostrate' ultimately originates from Latin, specifically the word 'rostratus', where 'rostrum' meant 'beak' or 'snout'.
'rostrate' changed from the Latin past-participle form 'rostratus' (from 'rostrum') into Medieval/Modern English 'rostrate' (via adjectival use in scientific Latin and later English scientific descriptions), and the compound 'wide-rostrate' developed in modern descriptive zoological usage.
Initially, the root referred simply to 'beak' or 'beaked' (from Latin 'rostrum'/'rostratus'); over time it evolved into the adjectival English 'rostrate' meaning 'having a beak or beak-like projection', and in compounds like 'wide-rostrate' specifies the width of that projection.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having a broad or wide rostrum (beak-like projection); used in zoological or morphological descriptions (e.g., insects, crustaceans).
The wide-rostrate beetle used its broad snout to bore into the wood.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/12 22:20