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:
So what about the testimonials that mosquito repellent patch brands boast on their websites?
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
El Niño conditions have fueled unprecedented humidity in Southern California this year, boosting mosquito activity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
They’re also turning to social media to commiserate over their collections of mosquito bites.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 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
I yank one up, and then push on the mosquito screen behind it.
From "Hurricane Child" by Kheryn Callender
“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
“Florida is on the front lines,” John-Paul Mutebi, director of Miami-Dade County’s Mosquito Control division, told me.
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
Mosquitos and an insect known as the "bull-dog" had driven many a trapper and hunter out of the swampy regions around Hudson Bay.
From Boy Scouts in Northern Wilds by Archibald Lee Fletcher
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
Mr. Morell said he “tested this theory” by studying the number of mosquitoes at other homes on the street: “I don’t see this at other locations.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
And in that humidity, mosquitoes were breeding — and biting.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
None of them had ever said it while they were sitting in the dark with mosquitoes plugging their nostrils or night sounds so loud around them they couldn’t think.
From "The River" by Gary Paulsen
Those around him fell sick, exposed to relentless mosquitos.
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
“I hate mosquitos because they love me so much,” one reader said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 22, 2026
This virus is predominantly spread by midge bites rather than mosquitos, with the main type of midge involved in transmission not found in Europe or the UK.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2025
The region has also experienced outbreaks of malaria, exacerbated by the floods which leave pockets of standing water that act as breeding grounds for the mosquitos that carry the disease.
From Salon ● Apr. 9, 2025
All day in the water had tired him so much that, in the end, he had fallen asleep sitting against his shelter wall, oblivious even to the mosquitos, to the night, to anything.
From "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen
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