mosquito
mo-SKEE-toh
Mosquito (noun) means a small biting insect whose females feed on blood and can spread diseases such as malaria. Example: “A cloud of mosquitoes descended on the campsite at dusk.”
noun
1
A small biting insect whose females feed on blood and can spread diseases such as malaria.
"A cloud of mosquitoes descended on the campsite at dusk."
"Sleeping under a net kept the mosquitoes away."
"A single mosquito kept me awake by buzzing around my ear all night."
How to use mosquito
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small flying insect known for biting and spreading disease.
Common pairings
mosquito bite
mosquito net
mosquito repellent
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Word forms
- Plural
- mosquitoes, mosquitos
- Third person singular
- mosquitos
- Past tense
- mosquitoed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A cloud of _____ descended on the campsite at dusk.
Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish mosquito, "little fly", from mosca ("fly") plus a diminutive ending, ultimately from Latin musca.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for mosquito
See all rhymes for mosquito →Frequently asked questions
What does “mosquito” mean?
The word “mosquito” means a small biting insect whose females feed on blood and can spread diseases such as malaria. In plain terms, a small flying insect known for biting and spreading disease.
How do you pronounce “mosquito”?
“Mosquito” is pronounced mo-SKEE-toh (/məsˈki.toʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “mosquito” in a sentence?
Here is “mosquito” used in a sentence: “A cloud of mosquitoes descended on the campsite at dusk.”
What part of speech is “mosquito”?
“Mosquito” is a noun.
Where does the word “mosquito” come from?
The word “mosquito” comes from Latin. Borrowed from Spanish mosquito, "little fly", from mosca ("fly") plus a diminutive ending, ultimately from Latin musca.
Is “mosquito” a common word?
“Mosquito” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
Why do mosquitoes bite people?
Only female mosquitoes bite, feeding on blood to obtain protein needed to develop their eggs. Male mosquitoes do not bite and typically feed on plant nectar instead.
What diseases can mosquitoes spread?
Mosquitoes can spread diseases such as malaria through their bites, along with other illnesses transmitted when they feed on blood. This makes mosquito control an important public health concern in many regions.
What is the difference between a mosquito and a gnat?
Mosquitoes are a specific type of small biting insect whose females feed on blood and can spread disease, while "gnat" is a broader informal term covering various small flying insects, not all of which bite or carry disease. Not every gnat is a mosquito, though mosquitoes are sometimes loosely called gnats in casual speech.
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