cicada

American  

[si-key-duh, -kah-] / sɪˈkeɪ də, -ˈkɑ- /

noun

plural

cicadas, cicadae

1. any large homopterous insect of the family Cicadidae, the male of which produces a shrill sound by means of vibrating membranes on the underside of the abdomen.

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cicada British  

/ sɪˈkɑːdə /

noun

1. any large broad insect of the homopterous family Cicadidae, most common in warm regions. Cicadas have membranous wings and the males produce a high-pitched drone by vibration of a pair of drumlike abdominal organs

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Etymology

Origin of cicada

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin cicāda

Example Sentences

The creature made horrible click, click, click noises like an enormous, slow-motion cicada.

From Literature

The sound of the cicada only served to underline the enormous silence.

From Literature

The harsh cicada seemed to take up its melody, and the twittering tree frogs called little phrases of it.

From Literature

As my mother and I approached the summer heat bore down on us, and a cicada started up, like an aerial lawnmower, in the heart of a copper beech tree at the back.

From Literature

He tumbled lifelessly through July, feeling as dry and empty as the cicada husks on the trees.

From Literature

Related Words

• grasshopper