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Synonyms

mosquito

1 American  
[muh-skee-toh] / məˈski toʊ /

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 American  
[muh-skee-toh] / məˈski toʊ /

noun

plural

Mosquitos,

plural

Mosquito
  1. Miskito.


mosquito British  
/ 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • mosquitoey adjective

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."

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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.

This research offers the first detailed visualization of mosquito flight behavior and provides measurable data that could improve trapping and control methods.

From Science Daily • Mar. 22, 2026

The team also launched an interactive public website that lets users explore mosquito movement and behavior.

From Science Daily • Mar. 22, 2026

My body was covered in a handful of enlarged mosquito bites, many of them already open gashes from my relentless itching.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

Local vector control department officials say it’s hard to predict what this current mosquito status means for the insect’s peak activity in the summer.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

Most kids, by then, are bored with summer and itchy from mosquito bites and poison ivy and nothing to do.

From "The Best School Year Ever" by Barbara Robinson