white ant

¹ American  

noun

1. termite.

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white-ant ² American  

[hwahyt-ant, wahyt-] / ˈʰwaɪtˌænt, ˈwaɪt- /

verb (used with object)

Australian Informal.

1. to undermine or subvert from within.

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white ant British  

noun

1. another name for termite

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Etymology

Origin of white ant¹

First recorded in 1675–85

Origin of white-ant¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

I took the book to the front porch and sat down on the floor, a foot from a trail of white ants.

From New York Times

Just weeks later, the eggs hatch into young cicadas that look like small white ants.

From New York Times

Hungry white ants have been allowed to burrow happily both into canvases and frames; bat colonies have been tolerated behind portraits of walrus-like viceroys with fantastic topiaries of facial hair.

From The Guardian

During dry season, white ants stay inside their hills–these elaborate nests are often palatial palaces up to 26 feet tall.

From Scientific American

It would mean that in the South, at least, before very long, white ants, captivated and allured by the scent of wood, would come in their myriads and attack the coffin.

From Project Gutenberg