haltere UK /ˈhæltɪə/US /ˈhæltɪɹ/ noun1 •A small knobbed structure in some two-winged insects, one of a pair that are flapped rapidly and function as accelerometers to maintain stability in flight.Whenever the fly changes direction at an angle to the hinge, the shaking bends the halteres at their base and turns them into a gyroscope. — 2022 formshalteres