mosquito

¹

[ muh-skee-toh ]

noun

, plural mos·qui·toes, mos·qui·tos.

1. any of numerous dipterous insects of the family Culicidae, the females of which suck the blood of animals and humans, some species transmitting certain diseases, as malaria and yellow fever.
2. Mosquito, Military. a twin-engined, two-seat British fighter and bomber of World War II, made largely of plywood and having a top speed of 380 miles per hour (610 km/h).

Mosquito

²

[ muh-skee-toh ]

noun

, plural Mos·qui·tos, (especially collectively) Mos·qui·to.

1. Miskito.

mosquito

/ məˈskiːtəʊ /

noun

1. See culex, anopheles, aedes
   any dipterous insect of the family Culicidae: the females have a long proboscis adapted for piercing the skin of man and animals to suck their blood See also aedes anopheles culex

Other Words From

• mos·quito·ey adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mosquito¹

First recorded in 1575–85; from Spanish, equivalent to mosc(a) “fly” (from Latin musca ) + -ito diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of mosquito¹

C16: from Spanish, diminutive of mosca fly, from Latin musca

Example Sentences

Anyone who doesn’t regularly fall prey to mosquitos will still find the Bug Bite Thing a worthwhile investment.

From Outside Online

In this issue we dive into another scientific advance that prompts big questions — genetically engineering mosquitoes to combat diseases.

From Science News

The species is especially hard to control among about 45 kinds of mosquitoes that whine around the Keys.

From Science News

Also, the latest version of these mosquitoes is shipped from the United Kingdom as cleaned male eggs.

From Science News

Some unease, too, may come just from basic human reactions to risk and control, says public health entomologist Natasha Agramonte, who has no connection with Oxitec but has been working with mosquitoes at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

From Science News

I chose it for its metaphorical resonance, but the mosquito bite theory might be the worse.

From The Daily Beast

On another trip, a defiant caiman (a South American crocodile) devours his mosquito net.

From The Daily Beast

The goal is to raise $250,000 in 30 days to build Sporobot, the mosquito-dissecting robot.

From The Daily Beast

In the summer, though, Bettles sees more tourists who come to the fly-and-mosquito infested gateway into the Alaskan wilderness.

From The Daily Beast

Its path here is almost comic: evidence indicates that the mosquito was brought because of the international used tire trade.

From The Daily Beast

Judy, already tucked inside her mosquito-curtains, was nearly asleep.

From Project Gutenberg

The mosquito bar was drawn over her; the old woman had come in while she slept and let down the bar.

From Project Gutenberg

The sexual cycle can take place only within the body of one genus of mosquito, anopheles.

From Project Gutenberg

When a malarious person is bitten by a mosquito, the gametes are taken with the blood into its stomach.

From Project Gutenberg

These migrate to the salivary glands, and are carried into the blood of the person whom the mosquito bites.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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