-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
mosquito
noun
mos·qui·to
mə-ˈskē-(ˌ)tō
plural mosquitoes also mosquitos
: any of a family (Culicidae) of dipteran flies with females that have a set of slender organs in the proboscis adapted to puncture the skin of animals and to suck their blood and that are in some cases vectors of serious diseases
Examples of mosquito in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Methods to help prevention dengue infection include using effective mosquito repellents, wearing long-sleeve shirts and long pants when outside, and staying in places with air conditioning, when possible.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 31 Oct. 2024
Products like mosquito nets and bug sprays can help prevent mosquito bites and the spread of malaria.
—Devika Rao, theweek, 31 Oct. 2024
Dylan had the opposite problem, and his puffed up like so many mosquito bites.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024
Preventing mosquito bites is important for more reasons than not having to deal with the itch the bites cause.
—Adrienne Dellwo, Verywell Health, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mosquito
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Word History
Phrases Containing mosquito
Dictionary Entries Near mosquito
Cite this Entry
“Mosquito.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mosquito. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
mosquito
noun
mos·qui·to
mə-ˈskēt-ō
plural mosquitoes also mosquitos
: any of numerous two-winged flies of which the females have a needlelike structure of the mouth region adapted to puncture the skin and suck the blood of animals
Etymology
from Spanish mosquito "mosquito," literally "little fly," from mosca "fly"
Medical Definition
mosquito
noun
mos·qui·to
mə-ˈskēt-(ˌ)ō, -ə(-w)
plural mosquitoes also mosquitos
: any of numerous dipteran flies of the family Culicidae that have a rather narrow abdomen, usually a long slender rigid proboscis, and narrow wings with a fringe of scales on the margin and usually on each side of the wing veins, that have in the male broad feathery antennae and mouthparts not fitted for piercing and in the female slender antennae and a set of needlelike organs in the proboscis with which they puncture the skin of animals to suck the blood, that lay their eggs on the surface of stagnant water, that include many species which pass through several generations in the course of a year and hibernate as adults or winter in the egg state, and that include some species which are the only vectors of certain diseases see aedes, anopheles, culex
More from Merriam-Webster on mosquito
Nglish: Translation of mosquito for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of mosquito for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mosquito
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share