n. Any of numerous insects of the order Diptera, characterized by a single pair of membranous wings and a pair of club-shaped balancing organs, and including the housefly and the mosquitoes. [From New Latin Diptera, order name, from Greek dipteros, having two wings : di-, two; see DI-1 + pteron, wing; see -PTER.] dipter·an adj. |
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