locust
locust Lexical Profile
locust Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A large, mainly tropical grasshopper of the family Acrididae, noted for its ability to form massive, highly mobile swarms that can devastate agricultural crops and wild vegetation.
"A massive swarm of locusts descended upon the farmlands, stripping the fields bare in a matter of hours."
North American A large, stout-bodied insect of the family Cicadidae (a cicada), renowned for its loud, buzzing song and sudden mass emergences after years spent underground.
"The deafening hum of the locusts filled the muggy summer air as they emerged from their long subterranean slumber."
North American A fast-growing leguminous tree of the genus Robinia or Gleditsia, native primarily to North America, characterized by pinnate leaves, fragrant flowers, thorny branches, and very durable wood.
"The farmers planted a row of black locusts to serve as a sturdy windbreak along the edge of the property."
Word Nuance & Usage
In North America, the term 'locust' is frequently used in colloquial speech to refer to the periodical cicada, though biologically the two are entirely different insects.
• Rhymes for locust
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'locuste', via Old French from Latin 'locusta', meaning 'grasshopper' or 'locust'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.