neuroptera

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

Neuroptera
    n 1: an order of insects including: lacewings; antlions;
         dobsonflies; alderflies; fish flies; mantispids;
         spongeflies [syn: {Neuroptera}, {order Neuroptera}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Neuroptera \Neu*rop"te*ra\ (n[-u]*r[o^]p"t[-e]*r[.a]), prop. n.
   pl. [NL., fr. Gr. ney^ron nerve + ptero`n a wing, fr.
   pte`sqai to fly.] (Zool.)
   An order of hexapod insects having two pairs of large,
   membranous, net-veined wings. The mouth organs are adapted
   for chewing. They feed upon other insects, and undergo a
   complete metamorphosis. The ant-lion, hellgamite, and
   lacewing fly are examples. Formerly, the name was given to a
   much more extensive group, including the true {Neuroptera}
   and the Pseudoneuroptera.
   [1913 Webster]