Definition of cockroach
: any of an order or suborder (Blattodea synonym Blattaria) of chiefly nocturnal insects including some that are domestic pests — compare German cockroach
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Recent Examples of cockroach from the Web
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Researchers have created an artificial nerve that triggers a muscle response in cockroaches.
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These cockroaches possess protein-rich crystals that lactate to feed their young.
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Some observers have drawn parallels between the president’s speech and Nazi descriptions of Jews as rats and vermin before the Holocaust and Hutu extremists referring to Tutsis as snakes and cockroaches to prepare for the Rwandan genocide.
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In the Rwandan genocide, Tutsis were called not people, but cockroaches, and slaveowners justified slavery by calling their slaves not people, but animals.
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Lots of people hate cockroaches but think ladybugs are cute.
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Palmetto bugs, or American cockroaches, are known to invade coastal South Carolina homes.
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Polls show this profession ranking in public opinion with root canals, colonoscopies and cockroaches.
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The animal handlers brought a variety of animals with them, including a cockatoo, ferret, cockroaches, and a 9-foot-long boa constrictor.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cockroach.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of cockroach
by folk etymology from Spanish cucaracha cockroach
COCKROACH Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of cockroach for English Language Learners
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: a black or brown insect that is sometimes found in people's homes
COCKROACH Defined for Kids
Definition of cockroach for Students
: a black or brown insect that is active chiefly at night and can be a troublesome pest in homes
Medical Dictionary
medical Definition of cockroach
: any of an order or suborder (Blattodea synonym Blattaria) of chiefly nocturnal insects including some that are domestic pests — see blatta, blattella, periplaneta
Illustration of cockroach
Learn More about cockroach
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See words that rhyme with cockroach Spanish Central: Translation of cockroach Nglish: Translation of cockroach for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cockroach for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cockroach
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