Cynipoid

/sɪˈnɪpɔɪd/ adjective

Definition

Resembling or related to the gall wasps of the family Cynipidae.

Etymology

From 'cynips' (gall wasp) plus '-oid' (resembling, having the form of). The suffix '-oid' was borrowed from Greek and became standard in English scientific terminology for describing similarities between organisms.

Kelly Says

The '-oid' suffix is like nature's way of saying 'looks like but isn't exactly'—you'll see it everywhere in science (humanoid, android, asteroid) to describe things that resemble something else!

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