wasp

Any of numerous social or solitary hymenopterans of the suborder Apocrita, especially of the family Vespidae, that characteristically have a slender hairless body with a constricted abdomen, two pairs of membranous wings, a mouth adapted for biting or sucking, and in the females an ovipositor sometimes modified as a sting.

Any one of several families, many genera, and very numerous species of aculeate hymenopterous insects, whose wings fold lengthwise in a peculiar manner when the insects rest, which insects are hence collectively called Diploptera.

Figuratively, a person characterized by ill nature, petulance, peevishness, irritability, or petty malignity.

Any one of numerous species of stinging hymenopterous insects, esp. any of the numerous species of the genus Vespa, which includes the true, or social, wasps, some of which are called yellow jackets.

any one of numerous species of solitary wasps that make their nests in burrows which they dig in the ground, as the sand wasps. See Sand wasp, under Sand.

See under Mud.

See under Potter.

a species of fly resembling a wasp, but without a sting.

Any of many types of stinging flying insect resembling a hornet or bee.

A person who behaves in an angry or insolent way, hence waspish.