təˈrēbrə, ˈterəb- noun
Etymology: Latin, borer, gimlet, from terere to rub, grind + -bra, suffix denoting an instrument — more at throw
1. plural terebras -brəz or terebrae -ē(ˌ)brē; -ə(ˌ)brē, -əˌbrī : a device used by the ancient Romans for starting a breach in a fortified wall
2.
[New Latin, from Latin, borer]
a. -s : the boring ovipositor of a hymenopterous insect
b. capitalized : a genus of marine gastropods (suborder Stenoglossa) having a long tapering spire and being the type of a family Terebridae comprising the auger shells
c. -s : auger shell
• tere·bral təˈrēbrəl, ˈterəb- adjective