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cicada

noun
ci·​ca·​da | \ sə-ˈkā-də How to pronounce cicada (audio) , -ˈkä- How to pronounce cicada (audio) , sī-ˈkā-\
plural cicadas also cicadae\ sə-​ˈkā-​(ˌ)dē How to pronounce cicadae (audio) , -​ˈkä-​ ; sī-​ˈkā-​ \

Definition of cicada

: any of a family (Cicadidae) of homopterous insects which have a stout body, wide blunt head, and large transparent wings and the males of which produce a loud buzzing noise usually by stridulation
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Did You Know?

Members of a family of insects, cicadas have a stout body, wide blunt head, two pairs of transparent wings, prominent compound eyes, and three simple eyes. Most of the 1,500 known species are found in tropical deserts, grasslands, and forests. Males produce loud noises by vibrating membranes near the base of the abdomen. Most North. American cicadas produce rhythmical ticks, buzzes, or whines, though the "song" of some species is musical. Periodic cicadas, including the well-known 17-year cicada (often erroneously called the 17-year locust) and 13-year cicada appear in regular cycles. Their larvae burrow into the ground, where they remain for 13 or 17 years, feeding on juices sucked from roots. Then they emerge in large numbers to live aboveground as adults for a single week.

Examples of cicada in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 McDaniel says the copperhead became aware of his presence, finished swallowing the cicada and slithered off. — Washington Post, "Gulp! Arkansas photographer snaps images of snake eating bug," 26 July 2019 The wasp paralyzes the cicada with a sting and takes it to a burrow. — Weldon B. Johnson, azcentral, "Cicadas are buzzing. Does that mean Arizona's monsoon storms are coming?," 18 July 2019 Female cicada killer wasps fly around looking for cicadas. — Weldon B. Johnson, azcentral, "Cicadas are buzzing. Does that mean Arizona's monsoon storms are coming?," 18 July 2019 The mornings in late spring and summer are long and bright, busy with birdsong and cicada buzz but light on traffic and train sounds. — Sara Clarkson, chicagotribune.com, "Clarkson: A lot to hear and see on early morning summer walks," 16 July 2019 In a bizarre twist, Ophiocordyceps species that inhabitat Japanese cicadas may have even replaced symbiotic bacteria to help their hosts process nutrients from sap. — Jennifer Lu, National Geographic, "How a parasitic fungus turns ants into 'zombies'," 18 Apr. 2019 Secret Lives Karban started off as a cicada researcher, studying how trees cope with the plague of sap-sucking bugs that descends upon them every 17 years. — Quanta Magazine, "The Secret Language of Plants," 16 Dec. 2013 Calm and serene / the sound of a cicada / penetrates the rock. — Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, "Children’s Books: Taking to the Sky," 25 Jan. 2019 Some have compared the taste of a cicada to popcorn, bacon, even crab. — New York Times, "A Story of Survival Revived by the Cicadas’ Loud (and Crunchy) Return," 22 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cicada.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of cicada

14th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for cicada

New Latin, genus name, from Latin, cicada

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More Definitions for cicada

cicada

noun
How to pronounce cicada (audio) How to pronounce cicada (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of cicada

: a large insect

See the full definition for cicada in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cicada

noun
ci·​ca·​da | \ sə-ˈkā-də How to pronounce cicada (audio) \

Kids Definition of cicada

: an insect that has transparent wings and a stout body and the males of which make a loud buzzing noise

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