Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

physogastry

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: physo-gas-try
IPA

23

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

3

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An enlargement of the abdomen in certain insects, especially in termite queens.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"One of the most bizarre modifications of the beetle abdomen is known as physogastry. Physogastry is a condition in which the abdomen is enlarged. usually through increased growth of the connective membranes, expansion of the internal fat bodies, and subsequent secondary sclerotization of the abdominal sclerites."
"The development of queen physogastry is considered to mark the end of the founding stage. It is often difficult to determine the time required for a queen to become physogastric in termite colonies."
"The most striking characteristic of many termitophiles is physogastry, or the excessive enlargement of the abdomen, which closely resembles that of the hosts and especially that of the old queens."

Etymology

From physo- + Ancient Greek γαστήρ (gastḗr, “belly”) + -y.

Origin

Source language: Ancient Greek

Word Breakdown

Root: γαστήρ

Usage

Uncountable

Frequently Paired Words

physogastric physogastrism

Questions

What does physogastry mean?: An enlargement of the abdomen in certain insects, especially in termite queens.
Where does physogastry come from?: It is traced to Ancient Greek.

How to pronounce physogastry

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