midge

noun

ˈmij 

: a tiny dipteran fly (such as a chironomid)

Examples of midge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Most Popular Baltimore County’s ‘unprecedented infestation’ of midges: What to know Catonsville bakery to shutter with ‘Grand Closing’ celebration Orioles game vs. Cardinals at Camden Yards delayed because of rain Will Trump administration declare Baltimore a sanctuary city and cut funding? —Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 28 May 2025

The problem is that thousands of midges don’t necessarily mature at the same rate. —Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 8 Mar. 2025

Researchers have studied these midges for decades, documenting their impressive resistance to extreme conditions. —Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 8 Mar. 2025

The mating calls of male Panama cross-banded tree frogs are synchronized to confuse bats and midges. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English migge, from Old English mycg; akin to Old High German mucka midge, Greek myia fly, Latin musca

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing midge

• biting midge
• gall midge

Rhymes for midge

• bridge
• fridge
• ridge
• abridge
• drawbridge
• footbridge
• oxbridge

Kids Definition

midge

noun

ˈmij 

: a very small fly : gnat

Medical Definition

midge

noun

ˈmij 

: any of numerous tiny dipteran flies (especially families Ceratopogonidae, Cecidomyiidae, and Chironomidae) many of which are capable of giving painful bites and some of which are vectors or intermediate hosts of parasites of humans and various other vertebrates see biting midge