mosquito

¹

[muh-skee-toh]

noun

plural

mosquitoes, mosquitos 

1. 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.

2. 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

[muh-skee-toh]

noun

plural

Mosquitos ,

plural

Mosquito .

1. Miskito.

mosquito

/ məˈskiːtəʊ /

noun

1. any dipterous insect of the family Culicidae: the females have a long proboscis adapted for piercing the skin of man and animals to suck their blood See also aedes anopheles culex

Other Word Forms

• mosquitoey adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mosquito¹

First recorded in 1575–85; from Spanish, equivalent to mosc(a) “fly” (from Latin musca ) + -ito diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of mosquito¹

C16: from Spanish, diminutive of mosca fly, from Latin musca

Example Sentences

The illness, which causes fever and intense joint pain, does not pass directly between people, so reducing mosquito populations remains the most effective way to prevent transmission.

Read more on Science Daily

A mosquito spots the eminent man and zooms over to wheedle in his ear, but Bashō remains immobile.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Officials tested everything from drinking water to mosquitoes before the truth emerged: their kidneys had failed.

Read more on BBC

“The first human cases of West Nile virus are an important reminder that we all need to take steps to prevent mosquito bites and mosquito breeding,” said Dr. Muntu Davis, L.A.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"The mosquitoes were just eating us alive," he says.

Read more on BBC

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