n pl :  a large suborder of Hemiptera or sometimes a separate order of insects comprising the cicadas, lantern flies, leafhoppers, spittlebugs, treehoppers, aphids, psyllas, whiteflies, and scale insects which have a small prothorax and sucking mouthparts consisting of a jointed beak and which undergo incomplete metamorphosis - compare HETEROPTERA  ho*mop*ter*an n or adj ho*mop*ter*ous adj 
 
 
 
Similar sounding terms:  He·mip·tera 
 
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