noun
cicada
sih-KAY-duh/sɪˈkeɪdə/
An insect whose males make loud buzzing calls.
The cicada grips a twig beneath its long, transparent wings.
Etymology
Latin cicada already meant “cicada” or “tree cricket.” The name’s earlier origin is uncertain; it may be a loan from a Mediterranean substrate language.
In context
Some cicadas can be as loud as a motorcycle engine! One of the loudest cicadas in the world is the Walker’s Cicada
More examples
- The cicada's empty shell clings to the bark.
- Thousands of cicadas fill the woods with sound.
- A cicada rests with its transparent wings folded over its body.
Forms
cicada · cicadas
Similar words
- cricket
- A cricket is a different insect; cicadas make their characteristic calls using specialized abdominal structures.