Bookworm vs. Insect — What's the Difference?

One who spends much time reading or studying.

Insects or Insecta (from Latin insectum) are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates and the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes and one pair of antennae.

Any of various insects, especially booklice and silverfish, that infest books and feed on the paste in the bindings.

A small arthropod animal that has six legs and generally one or two pairs of wings

Any of various insects that infest books.

Any of numerous arthropod animals of the class Insecta, having an adult stage characterized by three pairs of legs and a body segmented into head, thorax, and abdomen and usually having one or two pairs of wings. Insects include the flies, crickets, mosquitoes, beetles, butterflies, and bees.

(figurative) An avid book reader.

Any of various other small, chiefly arthropod animals, such as spiders, centipedes, or ticks, usually having many legs. Not in scientific use.

Any larva of a beetle or moth, which is injurious to books. Many species are known.

An insignificant or contemptible person.

A student closely attached to books or addicted to study; a reader without appreciation.

An arthropod (in the Insecta class) characterized by six legs, up to four wings, and a chitinous exoskeleton.

A person who pays more attention to formal rules and book learning than they merit

(colloquial) Any small arthropod similar to an insect, including spiders, centipedes, millipedes, etc.

Someone who spends a great deal of time reading

(derogatory) A contemptible or powerless person.

One of the Insecta; esp., one of the Hexapoda. See Insecta.

Any air-breathing arthropod, as a spider or scorpion.

Any small crustacean. In a wider sense, the word is often loosely applied to various small invertebrates.

Fig.: Any small, trivial, or contemptible person or thing.

Of or pertaining to an insect or insects.

Like an insect; small; mean; ephemeral.

Small air-breathing arthropod

A person who has a nasty or unethical character undeserving of respect