cicada

noun

ci·​ca·​da sə-ˈkā-də How to pronounce cicada (audio) -ˈkä- How to pronounce cicada (audio)
sī-ˈkā-
plural cicadas also cicadae sə-ˈkā-(ˌ)dē How to pronounce cicada (audio)
-ˈkä-;
sī-ˈkā-
: any of a family (Cicadidae) of homopterous insects which have a stout body, wide blunt head, and large transparent wings and the males of which produce a loud buzzing noise usually by stridulation

Did you know?

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

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That means there will likely be fewer cicadas above ground than there were in 2024, when multiple broods of cicadas emerged at the same time. Taylor Johnston, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2025 What the responding cicadas don’t realize is that this apparent invitation comes with a fungal payload. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025 These obligations and responsibilities have become a shell, and the men underneath them need to emerge, soft and vulnerable, like cicadas crawling out of the underworld and shedding their exoskeletons. Jessa Crispin, Harpers Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025 Some people think that three or four cicadas count. Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cicada

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, genus name, from Latin, cicada

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cicada was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cicada.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cicada. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

cicada

noun
ci·​ca·​da sə-ˈkād-ə How to pronounce cicada (audio) -ˈkäd- How to pronounce cicada (audio)
: any of a family of stout-bodied insects that have a wide blunt head, large transparent wings, and the males of which make a loud buzzing noise

More from Merriam-Webster on cicada

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!