noun A2 Elementary Uncommon

flea

FLEE

Flea (noun) means a tiny, wingless, jumping insect that feeds on the blood of mammals and birds. Example: “The dog kept scratching because of fleas.”

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noun

A tiny, wingless, jumping insect that feeds on the blood of mammals and birds.

"The dog kept scratching because of fleas."

"Fleas can jump many times their own body length."

How to use flea

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small biting, jumping insect that lives on animals.

Common pairings

flea bite flea market flea collar

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

fleaed past tense, flead past tense, fleas plural, fleen plural, fleas singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The dog kept scratching because of _____.

Etymology

From Old English flea, from a very old Germanic word for the insect.

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for flea

ea sea tea pea yea lea Bea DEA hea Rea plea idea

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Frequently asked questions

What does “flea” mean?

The word “flea” means a tiny, wingless, jumping insect that feeds on the blood of mammals and birds. In plain terms, a small biting, jumping insect that lives on animals.

How do you pronounce “flea”?

“Flea” is pronounced FLEE (/ˈfliː/ in IPA).

How do you use “flea” in a sentence?

Here is “flea” used in a sentence: “The dog kept scratching because of fleas.”

What part of speech is “flea”?

“Flea” is a noun.

Where does the word “flea” come from?

The word “flea” comes from Old English. From Old English flea, from a very old Germanic word for the insect.

Is “flea” a common word?

“Flea” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.