noun
Etymology
Origin of bedbug
Explanation
A bedbug is like a tiny vampire that lives in mattresses and couches, feeding on human and animal blood. About the size of an apple seed, these insects are especially frightening in large groups. Bedbugs are tiny, flat insects that feed on human and animal blood, usually at night. These pests have coexisted with humans for thousands of years, hitchhiking around the world in luggage and clothing. Despite their name suggesting a preference for beds, bedbugs can also conceal themselves in unexpected places like electronics and behind wallpaper. Their ability to hide and travel with unsuspecting hosts makes them terrifying invaders in any environment.
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.
Bedbug bites are often in a line or grouped together.
From BBC • Oct. 5, 2023
Bedbug infestations can occur at any time, but experts say it’s wise to be extra wary of the critters during peak travel times — like summer, for instance.
From Washington Post • Aug. 24, 2017
Bedbug eradication, he says, "is a bit like being a social worker," dealing with clients distraught by infestations.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2012
If we knew exactly how transmissible bedbugs are, we’d have a better sense of whether the Bedbug Apocalypse is really nigh.
From Slate • Oct. 6, 2011
I was just sure he’d drawn the Hotel Bedbug!
From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns
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.
