water beetle

2 definitions found

water beetle - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Water beetle \Wa"ter bee"tle\ (Zool.)
     Any one of numerous species of aquatic beetles belonging to
     Dytiscus and allied genera of the family Dytiscidae, and
     to various genera of the family Hydrophilidae. These
     beetles swim with great agility, the fringed hind legs acting
     together like oars.
     [1913 Webster]

water beetle - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  water beetle
      n 1: any of numerous aquatic beetles usually having a smooth
           oval body and flattened hind legs for swimming