: any of an order (Siphonaptera) of small wingless bloodsucking insects that have a hard laterally compressed body and legs adapted to leaping and that feed on warm-blooded animals
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One tendency breaker was the flea flicker to Raridon.—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025 Pets that bring fleas indoors, wildlife in neighborhoods and even brush piles in the yard can all increase the risk.—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025 From food and flea protection to chew toys and treats, the costs add up fast.—Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025 Covered in fleas, stickers, fur matted, hadn’t been groomed, and scared.—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for flea
Word History
Etymology
Middle English fle, from Old English flēa; akin to Old High German flōh flea
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of flea was
before the 12th century
: any of the order Siphonaptera comprising wingless bloodsucking insects that have a hard laterally compressed body and legs adapted to leaping and that feed on warm-blooded animals see cat flea, chigoesense 1, dog flea, rat flea, sand flea, sticktight flea
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