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locust

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The definition of a locust is a type of grasshopper that migrates in huge numbers quickly eating the plants in their path, or a hardwood tree with fragrant white flowers.

(noun)

An example of a locust is the plague told about in Exodus 10:1-20 in the New International Version of the Bible.

See locust in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

any of various large grasshoppers; specif., a migratory grasshopper often traveling in great swarms and destroying nearly all vegetation in areas visited
seventeen-year locust
1. a spiny tree (Robinia pseudoacacia) of the pea family, native to the E or Central U.S. and having long pendulous racemes of fragrant white flowers
  also called black locust or yellow locust
2. the yellowish, hard, durable wood of this tree
any honeylocust
carob (sense )

Origin: ME < L locusta, prob. akin to lacerta, lizard

See locust in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Any of numerous grasshoppers of the family Acrididae, often migrating in immense swarms that devour vegetation and crops.
The seventeen-year locust.
a. Any of several North American deciduous trees of the genus Robinia, especially R. pseudoacacia, having compound leaves, drooping clusters of fragrant white flowers, and durable hard wood.
b. Any of several similar or related trees, such as the honey locust or the carob.
c. The wood of one of these trees.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French locuste

Origin: , from Latin locusta

Origin: . Sense 3a, probably from the resemblance of its fruit to a locust

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