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louse Definition

louse (lo̵us; for v., also lo̵uz)

noun pl. lice

    1. 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)
    2. any of various arthropods that suck blood or juice from other animals or plants
  1. bird louse
  2. any of various other small insects, arachnids, and crustaceans that are not parasitic, as the book louse or wood louse
  3. 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.

Hemiptera (Latin), pediculus, mite; see insect.

Types of lice include: human, body, head, crab, chewing, sucking, rodent, elephant, plant, bird, bee, book, cootie*, livestock*.

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

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