gnat

noun

: any of various small usually biting dipteran flies
gnatty adjective

Examples of gnat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At just one or two centimeters across, each plant is the size of a fingernail and has leaves as small as gnats. Nina Foster, JSTOR Daily, 22 Nov. 2024 They’re caused by female gnats of the Ceratopogonidae family. Mark Gurarie, Health, 13 July 2024 Believe it or not, Thursday's perished gnat is not the first flying invader to terrorize The View in 2024. EW.com, 3 Oct. 2024 Anyway, gnats are always biting at the ankles of elephants. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 30 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gnat 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English gnætt; akin to Old English gnagan to gnaw

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near gnat

Cite this Entry

“Gnat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gnat. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

gnat

noun
: any of various small usually biting two-winged flies

Medical Definition

gnat

noun
: any of various small usually biting dipteran flies (as a midge or blackfly)

More from Merriam-Webster on gnat

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