louse Definition
louse (lo̵us; for v., also lo̵uz)
noun pl. lice
- any of an order (Anoplura) of small, flat, wingless insects with sucking mouthparts, parasitic on the skin or hair of humans and some other mammals; esp., the human body louse (Pediculus humanus corporis) and head louse (P. h. capitis)
- any of various arthropods that suck blood or juice from other animals or plants
- bird louse
- any of various other small insects, arachnids, and crustaceans that are not parasitic, as the book louse or wood louse
- Slang a person regarded as mean, contemptible, etc.
Etymology: ME lous < OE lus (pl. lys), akin to Ger laus < IE *lūs > Welsh lleuen, Bret laouen
transitive verb loused, lous′·ing
Rare to delouse
louse Idioms
louse up
☆Slang to botch; spoil; ruin
louse Synonyms
louse
n.
louse Usage Examples
Converse of object
- hatch: A second treatment at 8 days will kill all newly hatched lice.
- chew: Mallophaga literally means ' wool eating ' and the Amblycera and Ischnocera are known as chewing lice.
- eradicate: On these days, if you miss the action you need to take, you will fail to eradicate the lice for certain.
- tick: Contagious diseases such as pneumonia are passed from cage to cage rapidly, as are fleas, ticks, lice, and mites.
- kill: The comb's teeth will electronically kill the lice, without causing harm to the scalp.
- treat: You can buy lotions to treat head lice over the counter at the chemist.
Adjective modifier
- pubic: Also called " crabs, " pubic lice are parasitic insects found in the genital area of humans.
- live: Ideally, live lice must be seen on the patient.
Modifies a noun
- infestation: The dynamics of cattle lice infestation in a group of cattle kept over two winter periods.
- insecticide: Preventing head louse infection Insecticides must not be used for " prophylaxis " of head louse infection.
- comb: The program utilizes a scientific method for removing lice from the hair using a metal lice comb.
- shampoo: To buy your head lice shampoo now, just click the tick!
- infection: Around 50,000 to 60,000 people suffer from a head lice infection each year.
- egg: Did the lice eggs I put in the camp inmates ' clothes hatch in time to improve their performance?
Noun used with modifier
- head: You can buy lotions to treat head lice over the counter at the chemist.
- sea: In many areas, sea lice are the greatest single problem for farmed salmon.
- salmon: Work has also been carried out on feeding behavior in salmon lice.
- crab: In shape it is rather squat, hence the common name, crab louse.
- feather: Ornithologists believe the formic acid that the ants release may kill feather lice.
- wood: Malcolm quoted a sample menu - snail soup, fried sole with wood louse sauce, mutton with wireworm sauce, moths on toast.
Browse dictionary entries near louse
- ‹ Lourenço Marques
- ‹ lour
- ‹ loupe
- ‹ loup-garou
- ‹ loup
- ‹ loungewear
- ‹ lounge lizard
- ‹ lounge car
- ‹ lounge
- ‹ Louisville

