mosquito

noun

mos·qui·to | \ mə-ˈskē-(ˌ)tō

plural mosquitoes also mosquitos

Definition of mosquito

: any of a family (Culicidae) of dipteran flies with females that have a set of slender organs in the proboscis adapted to puncture the skin of animals and to suck their blood and that are in some cases vectors of serious diseases

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Examples of mosquito in a Sentence

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Diseases spread by pests like mosquitoes and fleas remain global health problems. — Alexandra Sifferlin, Time, "How a Drug For Pets May Help Prevent Zika and Malaria," 2 July 2018 Or stay at home Don’t let the mosquitos and crowds keep you from enjoying the once-a-year celebration. — Sophie Cannon, BostonGlobe.com, "Four spots (off the Esplanade) to watch the fireworks," 29 June 2018 According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, cases of illnesses stemming from tick, mosquito and flea bites — such as Zika, West Nile and Lyme disease — have tripled over the last 13 years. — Lindsay Kimble, PEOPLE.com, "Summer Has Arrived — Here's How to Avoid Flesh-Eating Bacteria & More Warm Weather Health Hazards," 5 June 2018 In 2017, DuPage County tested 33,266 mosquitoes and 193 were found to have West Nile. — Suzanne Baker, Naperville Sun, "It's time to start thinking about mosquito deterrents," 29 May 2018 Diseases caused by ticks, fleas and mosquitos can be serious or fatal. — Sean Rossman, USA TODAY, "Tick, mosquito, flea illnesses have tripled and the U.S. isn't fully prepared, CDC says," 2 May 2018 Advertising That achievement came from analyzing the DNA of 80 mosquito brothers. — Malcolm Ritter, The Seattle Times, "Science Says: Why scientists prize plant, animal genomes," 3 Apr. 2019 Pools of standing water attract rodents and mosquitoes. — Gregory B. Hladky, courant.com, "Decline Of Hartford Regional Market Linked To State Fiscal Woes," 12 June 2018 Good-quality mosquito head net that kept bugs from flying directly into my face, eyes, nose, and mouth. — The Editors, Outside Online, "The Best Mosquito Repellents, According to You," 21 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mosquito.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

11 Jun 2019

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Time Traveler for mosquito

The first known use of mosquito was in 1572

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More Definitions for mosquito

mosquito

noun

English Language Learners Definition of mosquito

: a small flying insect that bites the skin of people and animals and sucks their blood

See the full definition for mosquito in the English Language Learners Dictionary

mosquito

noun

mos·qui·to | \ mə-ˈskē-tō

plural mosquitoes

Kids Definition of mosquito

: a small fly the female of which punctures the skin of people and animals to suck their blood

mosquito

noun

mos·qui·to | \ mə-ˈskēt-(ˌ)ō, -ə(-w)

plural mosquitoes also mosquitos

Medical Definition of mosquito

: any of numerous dipteran flies of the family Culicidae that have a rather narrow abdomen, usually a long slender rigid proboscis, and narrow wings with a fringe of scales on the margin and usually on each side of the wing veins, that have in the male broad feathery antennae and mouthparts not fitted for piercing and in the female slender antennae and a set of needlelike organs in the proboscis with which they puncture the skin of animals to suck the blood, that lay their eggs on the surface of stagnant water, that include many species which pass through several generations in the course of a year and hibernate as adults or winter in the egg state, and that include some species which are the only vectors of certain diseases — see aedes, anopheles, culex