midge

noun

: a tiny dipteran fly (such as a chironomid)

Examples of midge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The mating calls of male Panama cross-banded tree frogs are synchronized to confuse bats and midges. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2024 The University of Minnesota Bugs Below Zero Team has been discovering the life-cycle dynamics of non-biting midges and their importance to trout for more than a decade. John Myers, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 2024 Avoid the height of summer when more visitors—and midges—descend on Scotland. Freya Bromley, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2023 Early in his research Heard became fascinated with those midges and mosquitoes. Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 Although current lease agreements with the Cavs and Guardians were designed to ensure the sustainability of public stadium financing, requests from sports teams for more taxpayer subsidies, in Cleveland, are about as perennial as midge season. Lucas Daprile, cleveland, 19 Aug. 2023 To avoid the midges, book your trip to Scotland between late September and early May. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2023 In the clear water, the purple midge flashed like a beacon. Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 16 July 2023 But the summer also adds terrestrial insects to the menu such as ants, grasshoppers, and beetles, as well as a higher emphasis on gnats and midges. Morgan Lyle, Field & Stream, 13 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'midge.' 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

Middle English migge, from Old English mycg; akin to Old High German mucka midge, Greek myia fly, Latin musca

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of midge was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near midge

Cite this Entry

“Midge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/midge. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

midge

noun
: a very small fly : gnat

Medical Definition

midge

noun
: any of numerous tiny dipteran flies (especially families Ceratopogonidae, Cecidomyiidae, and Chironomidae) many of which are capable of giving painful bites and some of which are vectors or intermediate hosts of parasites of humans and various other vertebrates see biting midge

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