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Definition of springtail

springtail

/ˈsprɪŋ.teɪl/
spring · tail
Plural:springtails
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springtail Lexical Profile

springtail Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of numerous small, wingless, primitive hexapods of the order Collembola, primarily found in soil and damp leaf litter, characterized by a specialized forked appendage beneath the abdomen used for jumping.

Example

"After the heavy autumn rain, thousands of tiny springtails appeared on the surface of the forest puddles."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for springtail

• Rhymes for springtail

• Nearby Words

springiness
springless
springlike
springtail
springtime
springwater
springy

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in English as a compound of 'spring' and 'tail', referring to the furcula, a specialized tail-like appendage folded under the abdomen that snaps downward to propel the organism into the air.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Springtail. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/springtail
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