curculio

noun

cur·​cu·​lio (ˌ)kər-ˈkyü-lē-ˌō How to pronounce curculio (audio)
plural curculios
: any of various weevils
especially : one that injures fruit

Examples of curculio 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.
Peaches, plums and other tree fruits are very susceptible to damage from plum curculios, cucumber beetles, stink bugs and various fungal diseases. ExpressNews.com, 5 Mar. 2020 Plum curculio worms may show up in fruits if the trees are too deep in the ground — so get all the root flares dramatically exposed by removing mulch and soil. Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 11 May 2020 This is to prevent entry of the plum curculio worms into fruits. Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 26 Feb. 2020 That should help prevent entry of plum curculios and other insects. Neil Sperry, ExpressNews.com, 16 Jan. 2020 The waxy globs are congealed sap that indicated plum curculio (worms) were in the fruit. Neil Sperry, ExpressNews.com, 17 Oct. 2019 In the 1890s many smaller growers struggled to afford expensive and elaborate controls to combat pests such as San Jose scale and plum curculio. William Thomas Okie, Smithsonian, 14 Aug. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Latin, grain weevil

First Known Use

1756, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of curculio was in 1756

Dictionary Entries Near curculio

Cite this Entry

“Curculio.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curculio. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on curculio

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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