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seventeen-year locust
[ sev-uhn-teen-yeer ]
/ ˈsɛv ənˈtinˌyɪər /
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noun
a cicada, Magicicada septendecim, of the eastern U.S., having nymphs that live in the soil, usually emerging in great numbers after 17 years in the North or 13 years in the South.
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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Also called periodical cicada.
Origin of seventeen-year locust
First recorded in 1810–20
Words nearby seventeen-year locust
Seven Sleepers, seven-spot, seventeen, seventeenth, Seventeenth Amendment, seventeen-year locust, seventh, Seventh Amendment, Seventh Avenue, seventh chord, Seventh Commandment
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
British Dictionary definitions for seventeen-year locust
seventeen-year locust
noun
an E North American cicada, Magicicada septendecim, appearing in great numbers at infrequent intervals because its nymphs take 13 or 17 years to matureAlso called: periodical cicada
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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