cicada

noun

ci·​ca·​da sə-ˈkā-də  -ˈkä- 

sī-ˈkā-

plural cicadas also cicadae sə-ˈkā-(ˌ)dē 

-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

Did you know?

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

Where have cicadas been reported in Alabama? Brood XIX cicadas have already been spotted around Alabama, with hundreds of sightings reported to Cicada Safari, a cicada tracking app by Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio. —Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 8 May 2024

Put one of the cicadas on top of each cookie and lightly press down. —Li Cohen, CBS News, 8 May 2024

With a trillion cicadas about to emerge in the United States, insect chefs are ready to ferment, sautée, and stuff them all for gourmet dishes. —Gabriela Riccardi, Quartz, 7 May 2024

During the first week of the invasion, the infected cicada still looks normal, and can infect other cicadas through copulation. —Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 7 May 2024

Illinois is the center of the cicada emergence that is on the way. —Julie Bosman Jamie Kelter Davis, New York Times, 4 May 2024

That’s not to say individual cicadas can’t come out by themselves. —Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2024

This year, the cicada emergence overlaps with several major metropolitan areas, including Chicago and Nashville. —Lily Carey, Discover Magazine, 2 May 2024

Simon predicted that 17-year cicada broods will shift to become 13-year cicadas. —Evan Bush, NBC News, 29 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, genus name, from Latin, cicada

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cicada

• periodical cicada

Kids Definition

cicada

noun

ci·​ca·​da sə-ˈkād-ə  -ˈkäd- 

: 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