deathwatch beetle

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Definitions from WordNet

Noun deathwatch beetle has 1 sense

deathwatch beetle, deathwatch, Xestobium rufovillosum - bores through wood making a ticking sound popularly thought to presage death
--₁ is a kind of beetle
--₁ is a member of Anobiidae, family Anobiidae

Definitions from the Web

Deathwatch Beetle

Definition:

The deathwatch beetle is a wood-boring insect species belonging to the family Anobiidae. It is known for the tapping sound it produces as a mating call, often heard at night in old wooden structures.

Senses:

Sense 1:

Noun: A small, dark-colored beetle that infests wood, especially in old buildings.

"The infestation of deathwatch beetles severely damaged the historic wooden beams in the ancient castle."

Sense 2:

Noun: The sound or ticking made by the deathwatch beetle, often considered ominous or a foreshadowing of death.

"As he lay in bed, the nervous man could only focus on the incessant deathwatch beetle, fearing the worst."

Sense 3:

Noun: A person who is believed to be close to death, often mentioned when referring to someone terminally ill or in a critical condition.

"The doctors warned the family that their father was now a deathwatch beetle, and they should prepare for the worst."

Sense 4:

Verb: To watch, observe, or monitor someone or something closely, typically with a sense of anticipation or worry.

"The detective deathwatch beetled the suspect's movements in order to gather enough evidence."

Sense 5:

Adjective: Pertaining to or characteristic of the deathwatch beetle.

"The old house emitted an eerie deathwatch beetle creaking sound, sending shivers down their spines."