gnat

[ nat ]

noun

1. any of certain small flies, especially the biting gnats or punkies of the family Ceratopogonidae, the midges of the family Chironomidae, and the black flies of the family Simuliidae.
2. British. mosquito.

gnat

/ næt /

noun

1. any of various small fragile biting dipterous insects of the suborder Nematocera, esp Culex pipiens ( common gnat ), which abounds near stagnant water

Derived Forms

• ˈgnatˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• gnatlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gnat¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English gnæt ( t ); cognate with German (dial.) Gnatze

Word History and Origins

Origin of gnat¹

Old English gnætt; related to Middle High German gnaz scurf, German dialect Gnitze gnat

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. strain at a gnat and swallow a camel, to fuss about trifles while ignoring more serious matters.

Example Sentences

Amid hordes of gnats they excavate that first fossil, which turns out to be a damaged leg bone.

From Los Angeles Times

Gracus glanced sidelong at this enormous gnat that continued to buzz in his ear.

From Literature

The plant uses a musky odor to lure fungus gnats that usually feed and lay their eggs on mushrooms into their cup-shaped flowers.

From Science Daily

Once inside, he spots gnats hovering above food rotting on dishes stacked in the kitchen.

From Los Angeles Times

The yellow attracts fungus gnats, aphids, thrips, leaf miners and other harmful pests feeding on your plants.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• ant
• aphid
• bee
• beetle
• butterfly
• cockroach
• dragonfly
• flea
• fruit fly
• grasshopper
• ladybug
• mite
• mosquito
• moth
• pest
• spider
• termite
• tick