aphis

noun

ˈā-fəs How to pronounce aphis (audio)
 also  ˈa-fəs
plural aphides ˈā-fə-ˌdēz How to pronounce aphis (audio)
ˈa-fə-
: any of a genus (Aphis) of aphids
broadly : aphid

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin Aphid-, stem of Aphis, genus name, of obscure origin

Note: The genus name Aphis was introduced by linnaeus in Systema naturae, Edition decima, Tomus I (Stockholm, 1758), p. 451. No indication of origin or earlier use of the name is given. As the Oxford English Dictionary, first edition, notes, a number of purely speculative Greek etymologies are adduced by George Bowdler Bucton in Monograph of the British Aphides, vol. 1 (London, 1876), pp. 4-5.

First Known Use

1763, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aphis was in 1763

Dictionary Entries Near aphis

Cite this Entry

“Aphis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aphis. Accessed 11 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

aphis

noun
ˈā-fəs How to pronounce aphis (audio)
ˈaf-əs
plural aphides ˈā-fə-ˌdēz How to pronounce aphis (audio)
ˈaf-ə-
: aphid
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