pest

¹

[ pest ]

noun

1. an annoying or troublesome person, animal, or thing; nuisance.

   Synonyms: annoyance

2. an insect or other small animal that harms or destroys garden plants, trees, etc.
3. a deadly epidemic disease, especially a plague; pestilence.

   Synonyms: epidemic, scourge, pandemic

Pest

²

[ pest; Hungarian pesht ]

noun

1. Budapest

pest

/ pɛst /

noun

1. a person or thing that annoys, esp by imposing itself when it is not wanted; nuisance
2. 1. any organism that damages crops, injures or irritates livestock or man, or reduces the fertility of land
   2. ( as modifier )

      pest control

3. rare.
   an epidemic disease or pestilence

Other Words From

• de-pest verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of pest¹

First recorded in 1545–55, pest is from the Latin word pestis plague

Word History and Origins

Origin of pest¹

C16: from Latin pestis plague, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

Mr Toplass, who runs a pest control firm, says he was misled into signing a business contract for three phones that he is now "powerless" to break free from.

From BBC

Gulls are everywhere, but most people see them as pests, taking for granted their remarkable variety and beauty.

From Salon

They nickname the unknown species “Gnatalie,” after the pests that plague them as they work.

From Los Angeles Times

The shy bird plays an important role in the food chain by preying on rodents, snakes and other pests and is also the state bird of Rajasthan, where it is called 'Godawan' by locals.

From BBC

This is the tale of California’s long fight against an agricultural pest.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blight
• bug
• contagion
• epidemic
• infection
• plague
• scourge
• virus