beetle
beetle — noun
1. an insect with six legs and a hard outer back that covers its folded wings
an insect with six legs and a hard outer back that covers its folded wings
A bright green beetle landed on Leo's lunch box at school.
collocation: green beetle
Under the rock, the children found a beetle with long legs.
A dead beetle floated in the bird bath after the storm.
This beetle folds its wings under a hard back.
Several black beetles were crawling around the garden light.
文法句型
a green beetle
find a beetle under a rock
beetles crawl
用法筆記
Usually written with a small b for the insect. Distinguish it from noun/2, the Volkswagen car name, which is often written with a capital B.
常見錯誤
2. a small Volkswagen car that is known for its rounded shape
a small Volkswagen car that is known for its rounded shape
Emma learned to drive in her father's yellow Beetle.
capitalized model name
A red Beetle was parked outside the bakery all morning.
The old Beetle shook on the hill but kept moving.
My aunt sold her Beetle after the second baby arrived.
Outside the museum, tourists took photos beside a blue Beetle.
- car
much broader; Beetle is one particular car model
- Volkswagen
the company name, not the model itself
- compact car
describes size and type, not this specific model
文法句型
drive a Beetle
a blue Beetle
sell a Beetle
用法筆記
Usually written with a capital B when it means the Volkswagen car. Compare noun/1, which names the insect and is normally lower-case.
常見錯誤
beetle — verb
1. to move somewhere very quickly with a busy, hurried manner
to move somewhere very quickly with a busy, hurried manner
Mia beetled upstairs when she heard the front door open.
intransitive: beetle + place adverb
At the bell, the boys beetled across the yard.
Two nurses beetled down the hall with fresh towels.
Tourists beetled back to the bus as rain started.
After lunch, Carla beetled off to catch the early train.
- stroll
means to walk slowly in a relaxed way
文法句型
beetle upstairs
beetle across the yard
beetle off to catch a train
用法筆記
Usually followed by a place word or movement phrase such as upstairs, across, back, or off. It suggests quick, busy movement and is much less common than hurry or rush.
常見錯誤
beetle — adjective
1. sticking out strongly and hanging over what is below
sticking out strongly and hanging over what is below
The old man's beetle eyebrows almost covered his tired eyes.
before noun: beetle eyebrows
A beetle cliff hung over the narrow path by the sea.
Above the porch, a beetle roof kept the rain away.
The drawing showed a beetle brow above the king's nose.
From below, the beetle rocks looked ready to fall.
- jutting
a clearer modern word for sticking outward
- overhanging
focuses on hanging over the space below
- projecting
more neutral and technical in tone
- flat
not sticking out from the surface
文法句型
beetle eyebrows
beetle cliff
beetle roof
用法筆記
Usually comes before nouns, especially for brows, rocks, roofs, or cliffs that push outward over something below.