cicada

noun

ci·​ca·​da sə-ˈkā-də How to pronounce cicada (audio) -ˈkä- How to pronounce cicada (audio)
sī-ˈkā-
plural cicadas also cicadae sə-ˈkā-(ˌ)dē How to pronounce cicada (audio)
-ˈkä-;
sī-ˈkā-
: any of a family (Cicadidae) of homopterous insects which have a stout body, wide blunt head, and large transparent wings and the males of which produce a loud buzzing noise usually by stridulation

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Members of a family of insects, cicadas have a stout body, wide blunt head, two pairs of transparent wings, prominent compound eyes, and three simple eyes. Most of the 1,500 known species are found in tropical deserts, grasslands, and forests. Males produce loud noises by vibrating membranes near the base of the abdomen. Most North. American cicadas produce rhythmical ticks, buzzes, or whines, though the "song" of some species is musical. Periodic cicadas, including the well-known 17-year cicada (often erroneously called the 17-year locust) and 13-year cicada appear in regular cycles. Their larvae burrow into the ground, where they remain for 13 or 17 years, feeding on juices sucked from roots. Then they emerge in large numbers to live aboveground as adults for a single week.

Examples of cicada in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The number of cicadas that are set to emerge this year exceeds a trillions, Uconn reported. Sydney Borchers, Fox News, 23 Jan. 2024 Dead and dying cicadas from Brood X in Columbia, Maryland. Matt Simon, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2023 Here's what to know about the broods set to emerge this spring: Will Ohio have cicadas this year? The Enquirer, 22 Jan. 2024 Mapping the insects’ range can help researchers understand how cicadas are adapting and changing between cycles. Denise Chow, NBC News, 20 Jan. 2024 Today, cicadas and locusts are still confused and cicadas are commonly called locusts. Joyce Orlando, The Courier-Journal, 19 Jan. 2024 The sun is engulfed, the sky dips into darkness, and the frenetic sounds of confused crickets, katydids, and cicadas come into focus. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2024 Billions of cicadas from two different broods will emerge this spring in a rare, buzzy natural phenomenon that hasn’t happened since 1803. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Jan. 2024 For instance, thousands of cicadas emerged in the year 2000, four years ahead of schedule. TIME, 19 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cicada.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, genus name, from Latin, cicada

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cicada was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near cicada

Cite this Entry

“Cicada.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cicada. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cicada

noun
ci·​ca·​da sə-ˈkād-ə How to pronounce cicada (audio) -ˈkäd- How to pronounce cicada (audio)
: any of a family of stout-bodied insects that have a wide blunt head, large transparent wings, and the males of which make a loud buzzing noise

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