Lĕp'i-dōp'ter, n.

n. [Fr. lépidoptères, pl., from Gr. λεπίς, λεπίδος, scale, and πτερόν, pl. πτερά, feather, wing, fr. πέτεσθαι, πέσεσθαι, to fly.]

1. (Entom.) An order, or one of an order, of insects, having four membranaceous wings, covered with fine imbricated scales, like powder, as the butterfly, the moth, and the like.
2. (pl.) An order of insects. See INSECT.