mosquito
|mos-qui-to|
B1
🇺🇸
/məˈskiːtoʊ/
🇬🇧
/məˈskiːtəʊ/
small blood-sucking insect
Etymology
Etymology Information
'mosquito' originates from Spanish, specifically the word 'mosquito', where 'mosca' meant 'fly' and the diminutive suffix '-ito' meant 'little'.
Historical Evolution
'mosquito' was borrowed from Spanish into English in the late 16th century.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'little fly', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a blood-sucking insect'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a small flying insect that bites humans and animals and sucks their blood, often spreading diseases like malaria and dengue.
Mosquitoes are most active during the evening.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/04/25 18:51