aphis
1 Americannoun
plural
aphidesnoun
-
any of various aphids constituting the genus Aphis, such as the blackfly
-
any other aphid
Etymology
Origin of aphis
First recorded in 1765–75; from New Latin, first recorded in a Greek lexicon of 1523 as áphis, with the Latin gloss cimex “bedbug”; perhaps originally a misreading of Greek kóris “bug”
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.
The woolly aphis is not bothered much by DDT, while the Aphelinus parasite, which normally discourages woolly aphis, is wiped out entirely.
From Time Magazine Archive
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Scientific investigations have failed to show that the release of this ladybird beetle in any aphis-infested field ever resulted in an effective reduction of the aphis population in that field.
From Time Magazine Archive
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From these emerge her children — strange, bristled larvae called aphis lions, which live by preying on aphids, scales, or mites, which they capture and suck dry of fluid.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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My trees are troubled with canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, woolly aphis, and twig-borer, and my apples with codling-moth and curculio.
From The Apple by Various
Is it not also His doings when an aphis creepeth on a rosebud?
From The Little Gleaner, Vol. X. A Monthly Magazine for the Young by Various
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.