1. number of plant-eating insects having hind legs adapted for leaping. grasshopper\grass"hop`per\ , n.
2. (zo?l.) any jumping, orthopterous insect, of the families acridid? and locustid?. the species and genera are very numerous. the former family includes the western grasshopper or locust (caloptenus spretus), noted for the great extent of its ravages in the region beyond the mississippi. in the eastern united states the red-legged (caloptenus femurrubrum and c. atlanis) are closely related species, but their ravages are less important. they are closely related to the migratory locusts of the old world. see:
locust.note: the meadow or green grasshoppers belong to the locustid?. they have long antenn?, large ovipositors, and stridulating organs at the base of the wings in the male. the european great green grasshopper (locusta viridissima) belongs to this family. the common american green species mostly belong to xiphidium, orchelimum, and conocephalus.
3. in ordinary square or upright pianos of london make, the escapement lever or jack, so made that it can be taken out and replaced with the key; -- called also the hopper.grasshopper engine, a steam engine having a working beam with its fulcrum at one end, the steam cylinder at the other end, and the connecting rod at an intermediate point.grasshopper lobster (zo?l.) a young lobster. [local, u. s.]grasshopper warbler (zo?l.), cricket bird.
4. Any jumping, orthopterous insect, of the families Acrididæ and Locustidæ.
5. The species and genera are very numerous.
6. The former family includes the Western grasshopper or locust , noted for the great extent of its ravages in the region beyond the Mississippi.
7. In the Eastern United States the red-legged are closely related species, but their ravages are less important.
8. They are closely related to the migratory locusts of the Old World.
9. See Locust.
10. In ordinary square or upright pianos of London make, the escapement lever or jack, so made that it can be taken out and replaced with the key; called also the hopper. terrestrial plant-eating insect with hind legs adapted for leaping a cocktail made of creme de menthe and cream.
11. A grasshopper is an insect with long back legs that jumps high into the air and makes a high, vibrating sound. Any of the leaping insects of the family Acrididae (short-horned grasshoppers) or Tettigoniidae (long-horned grasshoppers), both in the order Orthoptera. Grasshoppers are most common in tropical forests, semiarid regions, and grasslands. Colours range from green to olive or brown, sometimes with yellow or red markings. Grasshoppers eat plant material and may damage crops. Some species are more than 4 in. (11 cm) long. The male can produce a buzzing sound either by rubbing its front wings together or by rubbing toothlike ridges on the hind legs against a raised vein on each front wing. Grasshoppers are a favourite food of many birds, frogs, and snakes. See also katydid; locust.