mosquito

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.

“Mosquito” is pronounced mo-SKEE-toh (/məsˈki.toʊ/ in IPA).

Here is “mosquito” used in a sentence: “A cloud of mosquitoes descended on the campsite at dusk.”

“Mosquito” is a noun.

The word “mosquito” comes from Latin. Borrowed from Spanish mosquito, "little fly", from mosca ("fly") plus a diminutive ending, ultimately from Latin musca.

“Mosquito” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

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.

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.

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.