grasshopper
Americannoun
-
any of numerous herbivorous, orthopterous insects, especially of the families Acrididae and Tettigoniidae, having the hind legs adapted for leaping and having chewing mouth parts, some species being highly destructive to vegetation.
-
a small, light airplane used on low-flying missions, as for reconnaissance.
-
Military. Grasshopper, a U.S. antipersonnel mine that jumps off the ground when activated by proximate body heat and sprays shrapnel over a lethal radius of 350 feet (107 meters).
-
a cocktail of light cream, green crème de menthe, and white crème de menthe or crème de cacao.
noun
-
any orthopterous insect of the families Acrididae ( short-horned grasshoppers ) and Tettigoniidae ( long-horned grasshoppers ), typically terrestrial, feeding on plants, and producing a ticking sound by rubbing the hind legs against the leathery forewings See also locust katydid
-
informal very young or very small
-
an iced cocktail of equal parts of crème de menthe, crème de cacao, and cream
-
(modifier) unable to concentrate on any one subject for long
a grasshopper mind
Etymology
Origin of grasshopper
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English; see origin at grass ( def. ), hopper ( def. )
Explanation
Grasshoppers are chirping insects that hop. A grasshopper can use its long legs to leap up to 20 times its own body length — that's pretty impressive for a bug! Grasshoppers are related to crickets and katydids. The origin of the word grasshopper is instantly clear once you see a grassy field full of these leaping insects. The insects "chirp" by rubbing their legs against their wings. In some parts of the world, grasshoppers are eaten by humans, and they are often viewed as pests because of their appetite for grains. Swarms of grasshoppers have at various times been responsible for the destruction of entire fields of crops.
Vocabulary lists containing grasshopper
The United States
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Spelling Practice, Unit 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The researchers partnered with farmers in Senegal who regularly face outbreaks of the Senegalese grasshopper.
From Science Daily • Jan. 24, 2026
Ground-nesting birds, such as the diminutive grasshopper sparrow, are more elusive.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 13, 2023
An amateur photographer has spoken of his excitement after capturing a pink grasshopper on camera.
From BBC • Jul. 18, 2023
There’s a touch of the surreal about his work: Disparate characters and illogical sizes are grouped together, as when a hugely scaled grasshopper faces a smiling dog.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 12, 2023
The spoon and grasshopper bowl were passed around.
From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
