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Members of a family of insects, cicadas have a stout body, wide blunt head, two pairs of transparent wings, prominent compound eyes, and three simple eyes. Most of the 1,500 known species are found in tropical deserts, grasslands, and forests. Males produce loud noises by vibrating membranes near the base of the abdomen. Most North. American cicadas produce rhythmical ticks, buzzes, or whines, though the "song" of some species is musical. Periodic cicadas, including the well-known 17-year cicada (often erroneously called the 17-year locust) and 13-year cicada appear in regular cycles. Their larvae burrow into the ground, where they remain for 13 or 17 years, feeding on juices sucked from roots. Then they emerge in large numbers to live aboveground as adults for a single week.
Examples of cicada in a Sentence
Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 26 Feb. 2025
They are known for their size and for preying on cicadas.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 16 Aug. 2024
The sounds of millions of singing cicadas will soon fill the air.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2025
Read Next Local The next brood of cicadas is going to pop up soon around NC.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 13 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Cicada.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cicada. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
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