louse
Louse (noun) means a tiny wingless insect that lives as a parasite on the skin or hair of animals and people. Example: “The school sent a note home warning parents to check for lice.”
How to Use Louse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the parasitic insect (plural "lice") or, informally, a nasty person.
The phrasal verb "louse up" (to ruin something) is unrelated in meaning to the insect sense — it just means to mess up.
Word Forms
loused past tense, lice plural, louses plural, louses singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He called his ex-business partner a lying _____.
Etymology
From Old English lus, an ancient Germanic word for the insect, going back to Proto-Indo-European roots shared across many European languages.
Synonyms
View more →Related Words
Rhymes for louse
See all rhymes for louse →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “louse” mean?
The word “louse” means a tiny wingless insect that lives as a parasite on the skin or hair of animals and people. In plain terms, either the parasitic insect (plural "lice") or, informally, a nasty person.
How do you pronounce “louse”?
“Louse” is pronounced lows (/laʊs/ in IPA).
How do you use “louse” in a sentence?
Here is “louse” used in a sentence: “He called his ex-business partner a lying louse.”
What part of speech is “louse”?
Depending on how it is used, “louse” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “louse” come from?
The word “louse” comes from Old English. From Old English lus, an ancient Germanic word for the insect, going back to Proto-Indo-European roots shared across many European languages.
How many meanings does “louse” have?
“Louse” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tiny wingless insect that lives as a parasite on the skin or hair of animals and people.