tsetse fly

noun

tset·se fly | \ ˈ(t)set-sē-

, ˈtet-, ˈ(t)sēt-, ˈtēt-

Definition of tsetse fly

: any of several dipteran flies (genus Glossina) that occur in Africa south of the Sahara and include vectors of human and animal trypanosomes

— called also tsetse

— compare sleeping sickness

Examples of tsetse fly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The tsetse fly, which feeds on blood, has a symbiont that makes B vitamins. — Quanta Magazine, "An Explorer of Life’s Deepest Partnerships," 17 Sep. 2015 While Botswana’s northern swampland was ridden with disease-carrying tsetse flies and malaria, Mr. Selby and his clients traversed the bush in style. — Harrison Smith, Washington Post, "Harry Selby, one of the last and greatest of Africa’s ‘great white hunters,’ dies at 92," 22 Jan. 2018 The tsetse fly, which spreads sleeping sickness, nourishes its grub inside a bizarrely mammalian uterus and feeds it with a milklike fluid—one that’s laden with microbes. — Ed Yong, The Atlantic, "The Wasp That Paints Its Nursery In Bacteria," 12 Dec. 2017

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

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The first known use of tsetse fly was in 1865

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More Definitions for tsetse fly

tsetse fly

noun

English Language Learners Definition of tsetse fly

: a kind of fly found in Africa that bites people and animals, sucks their blood, and can spread a serious disease (called sleeping sickness) to humans

See the full definition for tsetse fly in the English Language Learners Dictionary

tsetse fly

noun

Medical Definition of tsetse fly

: any of several dipteran flies of the genus Glossina that occur in sub-Saharan Africa and include vectors of human and animal trypanosomes (as those causing sleeping sickness and nagana)

— called also tsetse