noun
- plural of alate; winged insects, especially winged forms of termites or ants
Usage: entomology; technical
verb
- third-person singular present tense of alate; to provide with wings or wing-like structures
Usage: rare; technical
Examples
- The colony released alates during the mating season.
- Termite alates are attracted to light sources.
- The winged alates dispersed to establish new colonies.
- Carpenter ants produce alates in late summer.
- Scientists studied the behavior of alates in the laboratory.