apterous

UK: /ˈæptərəs/ US: (ap′tər əs)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ap•ter•ous  (ap′tər əs), adj. 

1. Zoology wingless, as some insects.
2. Botany without membranous expansions, as a stem.

• Greek ápteros wingless. See a-⁶, -pterous
• 1765–75

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

apterous / ˈæptərəs/ adjective

1. (of insects) without wings, as silverfish and springtails
2. without winglike expansions, as some plant stems, seeds, and fruits

Etymology: 18th Century: from Greek apteros wingless, from a-¹ + pteron wing

ˈapterˌism noun