periodical cicada
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of periodical cicada
First recorded in 1885–90
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.
The U.S., where there are both annual and periodical cicada swarms, tends to take a more laissez-faire approach.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026
Also notable is that all seven periodical cicada species—broods contain multiple species—will be out in the same year.
From Slate ● Apr. 14, 2024
The research team says this is one of only a few studies that has explored the indirect effects of periodical cicada emergence events on forest food webs.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2023
Fifteen different periodical cicada groups, or "broods," live in forests across the eastern U.S., emerging in 13- to 17-year cycles.
From National Geographic ● Sep. 5, 2023
Many people’s attitude toward insects is dominated by their fear and loathing, but the 17-year periodical cicada emergence is more than just “another bug on its way,” falsely equated with invasive Asian giant hornets.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 4, 2021
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
