one who, or that which, elates.-an elastic spiral filament for dispersing the spores, as in some liverworts.-any beetle of the family elateridae, 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.-the caudal spring used by podura and related insects for leaping. see collembola.-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.