View synonyms for pest

pest

[ pest ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

an annoying or troublesome person, animal, or thing; nuisance.
Synonyms: annoyance
an insect or other small animal that harms or destroys garden plants, trees, etc.
a deadly epidemic disease, especially a plague; pestilence.
Synonyms: epidemic, scourge, pandemic

Pest

[ pest; Hungarian pesht ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Budapest

pest

/ pɛst /

noun

a person or thing that annoys, esp by imposing itself when it is not wanted; nuisance
1. any organism that damages crops, injures or irritates livestock or man, or reduces the fertility of land
2. ( as modifier )
  pest control
rare.
an epidemic disease or pestilence

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Other Words From

de-pest verb (used with object)

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Word History and Origins

Origin of pest¹

First recorded in 1545–55, pest is from the Latin word pestis plague

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Word History and Origins

Origin of pest¹

C16: from Latin pestis plague, of obscure origin

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Example Sentences

Contaminated soil is allowed to be used as “daily cover,” a layer of material spread over municipal waste to prevent odors and pests.

From Los Angeles Times

Plants use an amino acid called lysine for many things, including as a part of their detection and response to pests.

From Salon

Evangelista has found that cockroaches, of which there are some 7,000 species, only ten of which are city pests, are younger than previously believed.

From Salon

In fact, there was a "serious" moth infestation in the insulation, which had been detailed in at least two reports from pest control companies before the sale.

From BBC

The presenter added the texts were a "huge error of judgement" for which he was "deeply sorry", adding that he was "not a sex pest".

From BBC

Related Words

Pessoa Pestalozzi

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