1
plural lice
ˈlīs 
a
: any of various small wingless usually flattened insects (orders Anoplura and Mallophaga) parasitic on warm-blooded animals
b
: a small usually sluggish arthropod (such as a biting louse) that lives on other animals or on plants and sucks their blood or juices
c
: any of several small arthropods (such as a book louse) that are not parasitic
Examples of louse in a Sentence
Noun
a problem with head lice
Her ex-husband is a real louse.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ben Croll, IndieWire, 19 May 2025
The vines did not survive, however, probably due to the presence of phylloxera, the vine louse, in the soil.
—Per and Britt Karlsson, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Chris Foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2017
See All Example Sentences for louse
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Noun
Call him a lush, a louse, a putz, a schmuck, a sad-sack, and a dumb-SOB and all would apply.
—Ben Croll, IndieWire, 19 May 2025
The vines did not survive, however, probably due to the presence of phylloxera, the vine louse, in the soil.
—Per and Britt Karlsson, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
Will Ferrell figure out a way to get along, their fathers (Mel Gibson, John Lithgow) show up for the holidays to louse everything up in this comedy sequel.
—Chris Foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2017
See All Example Sentences for louse
Cite this Entry
“Louse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/louse. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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