Definition of "anting" [anting]

• The practice, of some birds, of rubbing live ants into the feathers as a means of controlling parasites (noun)

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• "Or, to choose an example that doesn't involve advertising, there is 'anting': the odd habit of birds, such as jays, of 'bathing' in an ants 'nest or otherwise applying ants to the feathers."
• "I've beenw anting to read this one for a while and actually read the first 20-30 pages at the store the other day."
• "Along the next, a newly fledged robin is trying out anting, opening its tail feathers and wings and squirming them into the earth to encourage ants to crawl and squirt their formic acid, which will kill the lice on its feathers."