mosquito
noun
any of numerous dipterous insects of the family Culicidae, the females of which suck the blood of animals and humans, some species transmitting certain diseases, as malaria and yellow fever.
Showing results for "mosquito"
- a variation of Miskito.
mosquito
1 American
[muh-skee-toh]
/ məˈski toʊ /
noun
-
mosquitoes,
plural
-
mosquitos
plural
-
any of numerous dipterous insects of the family Culicidae, the females of which suck the blood of animals and humans, some species transmitting certain diseases, as malaria and yellow fever.
-
Military. Mosquito, a twin-engined, two-seat British fighter and bomber of World War II, made largely of plywood and having a top speed of 380 miles per hour (610 km/h).
Mosquito
2
American
[muh-skee-toh]
/ məˈski toʊ /
noun
-
Mosquitos,
plural
-
Mosquito
plural
mosquito
British
/ məˈskiːtəʊ /
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of mosquito
First recorded in 1575–85; from Spanish, equivalent to mosc(a) “fly” (from Latin musca ) + -ito diminutive suffix
Explanation
A mosquito is a tiny stinging insect that leaves an itchy welt on your skin. Between its annoying bites and its ability to spread disease, the mosquito is not the most popular of insects (unlike the fair ladybug). Male mosquitoes feed on nectar and live only a few days, while females need to feed on blood in order for their eggs to develop and be laid. Female mosquitoes, therefore, can be a nuisance on summer evenings, and can even be downright dangerous in tropical areas where they often spread diseases like malaria. In Spanish, mosquito means "little gnat," from mosca, "gnat or fly."
Vocabulary lists containing mosquito
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.
See Examples For:
The American Mosquito Control Assn. says: Most mosquito repellent patches include citronella oil as an active ingredient — or the only active ingredient.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
So what about the testimonials that mosquito repellent patch brands boast on their websites?
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
Smit means smiling and his last name means mosquito, Arora said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
The technology emerged from research focused on making military uniforms more resistant to mosquito bites and improving comfort for soldiers wearing body armor.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026
After that, their voices lowered, and I lay awake in the dark, worry about the future buzzing like a mosquito in my head.
From Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm
“The Mosquito Bowl” takes its name from a pickup football game conducted between battle-hardened Marine units on Guadalcanal on Dec. 24, 1944, as they were awaiting orders to invade Okinawa.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
"With climate change, we're sitting on a ticking time bomb," the 32-year-old founder of Bee Safe Mosquito Control tells AFP.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
The Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District even has its own fish hatchery, where it rears the aptly named Western mosquitofish.
From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026
Bee Safe Mosquito Control is the first business in the US to offer this form of pest control directly to residents.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
The following year Finlay presented his conclusions in a paper called “The Mosquito Hypothetically Considered as the Agent of Yellow Fever.”
From "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy
Mosquitos have spread, due to stagnant waters following the flooding.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 13, 2022
Mosquitos themselves were also among their ranks, further transmitting the deadly disease with each new bite.
From Salon ● Feb. 26, 2022
The images made by the unit flying in a variety of aircraft, including Mosquitos and Spitfires, helped in the planning of major milestones of the war, including the D-Day landings and the Dambusters raid.
From BBC ● Dec. 5, 2021
The Blair-Pongracic Band with the Atomic Mosquitos Two instrumental surf bands perform.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 13, 2017
The Mosquitos began to arrive in their legions, and the humming of innumerable wings filled the low clearing with continuous sound.
From Maria Chapdelaine by W. H. Blake
An entomologist says: Immo A. Hansen, a medical entomologist at New Mexico State University who studies the physiology of mosquitoes, has very definite opinions about mosquito repellent patches.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
But to ward off skeeters, better to either cover up skin with clothing or simply avoid areas and times of day when mosquitoes are most active.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
"Programming without electricity or an internet connection is a problem... you can either come here to play or stay behind during a blackout, get bitten by mosquitoes, and catch dengue," he said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
He also accused McConnell staff of attracting mosquitoes to Mr. McConnell’s home to attack people staked outside.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
His face was swollen from the mosquitoes in the night, his eyes puffy and shut, and Brian used his T-shirt to wipe cool water on Derek’s face.
From "The River" by Gary Paulsen
Those around him fell sick, exposed to relentless mosquitos.
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
The government has urged people to get vaccinated ahead of the Easter weekend, a time when many Colombians travel to warmer areas where the mosquitos that spread the disease are more prevalent.
From BBC ● Apr. 17, 2025
The kingdom of animals is a broad category that includes everything from mosquitos to chimpanzees.
From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2024
Everything you need to know to protect yourself from mosquitos while hiking and camping in Southern California.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2024
Well, he thought holding his ribs and smiling, then spitting mosquitos out of his mouth.
From "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen
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