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 mosquitoes were just eating us alive," he says.

From BBC

Chikungunya is spread by two types of mosquito, neither of which are present in the UK, so there is no risk on onward infection.

From BBC

In Gurugram, an upscale suburb just outside Delhi, gleaming SUVs, futuristic skyscrapers and neat apartments stand in stark contrast to nearby mosquito swarms, trash heaps and tarpaulin shanties.

From BBC

The best way to prevent the virus from spreading is to reduce pools of stagnant water that allow the mosquitoes to breed, according to the World Health Organization.

From BBC

But as they're hounded by mosquitoes – which thrive in hot weather – reindeer are now fleeing to roads and villages in search of relief.

From BBC

Related Words

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• moth 
• pest 
• spider 
• termite 
• tick