Phrase guide

water strider

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae, which rely on surface tension to walk on top of water.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Jesus bug, magic bug, pond-skater, skater, skimmer, water scooter, water skater, water skeeter, water skimmer, water skipper, water bug, water spider

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

long-legged bug that skims about on the surface of water

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: pond-skater, water skater

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: water bug

Narrower terms: common pond-skater, Gerris lacustris

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

37 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Basque: zapatari — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Catalan: sabater — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Chinese Mandarin: 水黽 /水黾 (shuǐmǐn) — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Czech: vodoměrka — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Danish: skøjteløber — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Danish: vandløber — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Dutch: schaatsenrijder — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Esperanto: geriso — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Estonian: liuskurlane — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Estonian: vesijooksik — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Finnish: vesimittari — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • French: araignée d’eau — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Galician: zapateiro — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Galician: pita cega — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Galician: cabra cega — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Galician: besbello — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • German: Wasserläufer — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Hungarian: molnárpoloska — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Hungarian: molnárka — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Icelandic: stiklari — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Irish: scinnire locháin — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Japanese: 飴棒 (amenbo) — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Navajo: táłkááʼ dilwoʼí — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Norwegian: vannløpere — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Osage: ámąðį — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Polish: nartnik — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Portuguese: alfaiate — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Russian: водоме́рка (vodomérka) — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Spanish: tejedor — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Spanish: zapatero — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Swedish: skräddare — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Swedish: vattenlöpare — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Swedish: vattenmätare — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Thai: จิงโจ้น้ํา (jing-jôo-náam) — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Unami: mèxèlkatèlis — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Vietnamese: gọng vó — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae
  • Welsh: rhiain y dŵr — any of a number of predatory insects in the family Gerridae