gnat

gnat

noun \ˈnat\

Definition of GNAT

: any of various small usually biting dipteran flies

— gnat·ty \-ē\ adjective

Origin of GNAT

Middle English, from Old English gnætt; akin to Old English gnagan to gnaw

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Insect Terms

drone, entomology, gadfly, pismire, proboscis, vespine

Rhymes with GNAT

bat, batt, blat, brat, cat, Cat, chat, chert, drat, fat, flat, frat, gat, hat, mat, Matt, matte, pat, phat, plait, plat, Pratt, rat, sat, scat, scatt, skat, slat, spat, splat, sprat, stat, tat, that, vat

gnat

noun \ˈnat\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of GNAT

: any of various small usually biting dipteran flies (as a midge or blackfly)

gnat

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any member of several species of small dipterans, most of which bite or annoy humans. Midges are also sometimes called gnats. In North America the name is also applied to the blackfly, fruit fly, and other small flies that hover about the eyes of humans and other animals.