Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Elater
E-lat′er
,Noun.
One who, or that which, elates.
‖El′a-ter
,Noun.
[NL., fr. Gr. [GREEK] driver, fr. [GREEK] to drive.]
1.
(Bot.)
An elastic spiral filament for dispersing the spores, as in some liverworts.
2.
(Zoöl.)
Any beetle of the family
Elateridæ
, 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
. El′a-ter
,Noun.
(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.