[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

elater \el"ater\, n. chem.
   the active principle of elaterium, being found in the juice
   of the wild or squirting cucumber ecballium agreste,
   formerly motordica elaterium and other related species. it
   is extracted as a bitter, white, crystalline substance, which
   is a violent purgative.
   1913 webster
see also:
ecballium agreste motordica elaterium 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

elater \elat"er\, n.
   one who, or that which, elates.
   1913 webster

[3] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

elater \el"ater\, n. nl., fr. gr. ? driver, fr. ? to drive.
   1. bot. an elastic spiral filament for dispersing the
      spores, as in some liverworts.
      1913 webster

   2. zo"ol. any beetle of the family elateridae, having
      the habit, when laid on the back, of giving a sudden
      upward spring, by a quick movement of the articulation
      between the abdomen and thorax; -- called also click
      beetle, spring beetle, and snapping beetle.
      1913 webster

   3. zo"ol. the caudal spring used by podura and related
      insects for leaping. see collembola.
      1913 webster
see also:
elateridae click beetle spring beetle snapping beetle podura collembola 

[4] : WordNet (r) 2.0

elater
     n : any of various widely distributed beetles syn: elaterid
         beetle, elaterid
see also:
elaterid beetle elaterid 

Elater >> E Words
Elater, definition of term: Elater
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