4 definitions found From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Elater \El"a*ter\, n. (Chem.) The active principle of elaterium, being found in the juice of the wild or squirting cucumber ({Ecballium agreste}, formerly {Motordica Elaterium}) and other related species. It is extracted as a bitter, white, crystalline substance, which is a violent purgative. [1913 Webster] From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Elater \E*lat"er\, n. One who, or that which, elates. [1913 Webster] From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Elater \El"a*ter\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? driver, fr. ? to drive.] 1. (Bot.) An elastic spiral filament for dispersing the spores, as in some liverworts. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo["o]l.) Any beetle of the family {Elaterid[ae]}, having the habit, when laid on the back, of giving a sudden upward spring, by a quick movement of the articulation between the abdomen and thorax; -- called also {click beetle}, {spring beetle}, and {snapping beetle}. [1913 Webster] 3. (Zo["o]l.) The caudal spring used by {Podura} and related insects for leaping. See {Collembola}. [1913 Webster] From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]: elater n : any of various widely distributed beetles [syn: {elaterid beetle}, {elaterid}]
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