noun
louse
lows
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.”
noun
1
A tiny wingless insect that lives as a parasite on the skin or hair of animals and people.
"The school sent a note home warning parents to check for lice."
2
An informal, insulting term for a despicable or deceitful person.
"He called his ex-business partner a lying louse."
verb
1
To search for and remove lice from someone or something.
"The mother monkey loused her baby carefully."
How to use louse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the parasitic insect (plural "lice") or, informally, a nasty person.
Common mistake
The phrasal verb "louse up" (to ruin something) is unrelated in meaning to the insect sense — it just means to mess up.
Common pairings
head lice
louse up
a real louse
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Word forms
- Plural
- lice, louses
- Third person singular
- louses
- Past tense
- loused
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.
