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noun

insecticide

ihn-SEHK-tih-syd
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Insecticide (noun) means a chemical substance used to kill insects. Example: “Farmers sprayed insecticide to protect the crop from beetles.”

noun
1
A chemical substance used to kill insects.
"Farmers sprayed insecticide to protect the crop from beetles."
"The dried seed powder of custard apple (Annona squamosa L; family: Annonaceae) has been used as an insecticide in India and many other tropical countries since ancient times." — Handbook of Pesticides: Methods of Pesticide Residues Analysis (2009)

How to use insecticide

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA pesticide made specifically to kill insects.

Common pairings
spray insecticide insecticide resistance
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Word forms

Plural
insecticides
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Fill the gap

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Farmers sprayed _____ to protect the crop from beetles.

Etymology

From French insecticide — insect plus -icide, "killer of."

Origin: French

insect powder

Rhymes for insecticide

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Frequently asked questions

What does “insecticide” mean?
The word “insecticide” means a chemical substance used to kill insects. In plain terms, a pesticide made specifically to kill insects.
How do you pronounce “insecticide”?
“Insecticide” is pronounced ihn-SEHK-tih-syd (/ɪnˈsɛk.təˌsaɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “insecticide” in a sentence?
Here is “insecticide” used in a sentence: “Farmers sprayed insecticide to protect the crop from beetles.”
What part of speech is “insecticide”?
“Insecticide” is a noun.
Where does the word “insecticide” come from?
The word “insecticide” comes from French. From French insecticide — insect plus -icide, "killer of.".