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lanternfly

American  
[lan-tern-flahy] / ˈlæn tərnˌflaɪ /

noun

plural

lanternflies

  1. any of several large tropical insects of the family Fulgoridae, formerly thought to be luminescent.

Etymology

Origin of lanternfly

First recorded in 1745–55; lantern ( def. ) + fly 1 ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ultimately, each specimen will be entered into the Spotted Lanternfly Invasion Archive.

From National Geographic • Aug. 31, 2023

“If you see a Spotted Lanternfly, help us Stomp it Out!” reads a message from the state’s Department of Agriculture.

From Washington Post • Jan. 31, 2023

Lanternfly defenders argue that the widespread and costly destruction the bugs are supposedly capable of has not fully materialized.

From New York Times • Aug. 21, 2022

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.