mosquito

noun

mos·​qui·​to mə-ˈskē-(ˌ)tō How to pronounce mosquito (audio)
plural mosquitoes also mosquitos
: 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
mosquitoey adjective

Illustration of mosquito

Illustration of mosquito

Examples of mosquito 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.
Understanding the mechanism preventing transmission could, for example, help fight transmission by other insect vectors, such as mosquitoes, Pietri said. Kristen V. Brown, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2024 To prevent biting from these (and other types of mosquitoes), wear insect repellant and protective clothing, and check that window screens are in good repair. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2024 Volunteers are needed to help collect and dispose of items that could act as a breeding group for mosquitoes. Orlando Sentinel Staff, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Nov. 2024 The researchers suspected that hearing played a role in mosquito mating behavior after observing the courtship routines for Aedes aegypti — mosquitoes that spread diseases like dengue, Zika and yellow fever. Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mosquito 

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, diminutive of mosca fly, from Latin musca — more at midge

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mosquito was in 1572

Dictionary Entries Near mosquito

Cite this Entry

“Mosquito.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mosquito. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

mosquito

noun
mos·​qui·​to mə-ˈskēt-ō How to pronounce mosquito (audio)
plural mosquitoes also mosquitos
: any of numerous two-winged flies of which the females have a needlelike structure of the mouth region adapted to puncture the skin and suck the blood of animals
mosquitoey adjective
Etymology

from Spanish mosquito "mosquito," literally "little fly," from mosca "fly"

Medical Definition

mosquito

noun
mos·​qui·​to mə-ˈskēt-(ˌ)ō, -ə(-w) How to pronounce mosquito (audio)
plural mosquitoes also mosquitos
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on mosquito

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