noun a chemical preparation for destroying plant, fungal, or animal pests . Origin of pesticide First recorded in
1935–40; pest +
-i- +
-cide Related forms pes·ti·cid·al , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for pesticide Contemporary Examples of pesticide Those might include BPA (which is found in many plastics), pesticide residue, and both legal and not-so-legal drugs.
In many rural Chinese homes, a jar of pesticide —often a variety banned in Western countries—sits in the family outhouse.
But the pesticide that ensures an abundant crop all too often reaps sorrow.
Experts attribute this change to a decrease in pesticide access.
Historical Examples of pesticide All through the wooded area, he could see occasional members of the pesticide robots.
Within minutes, more and more of the pesticide robots were swarming towards and into the clearing.
Two hundred pesticide robots were ranged around the perimeter of the clearing, their weapons facing inward.
The laws and recommendations for pesticide application may have changed since the articles were written.
British Dictionary definitions for pesticide noun a chemical used for killing pests, esp insects and rodents
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Derived Forms pesticidal , adjective 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
Word Origin and History for pesticide n. 1939, a hybrid coined from English pest + Latinate -cide .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
n. A chemical used to kill pests, especially insects.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
A chemical used to kill harmful animals or plants. Pesticides are used especially in agriculture and around areas where humans live. Some are harmful to humans, either from direct contact or as residue on food, or are harmful to the environment because of their high toxicity, such as DDT (which is now banned in many countries). Pesticides include fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and rodenticides. See more at fungicide herbicide insecticide .
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
