flea

noun

ˈflē 

: any of an order (Siphonaptera) of small wingless bloodsucking insects that have a hard laterally compressed body and legs adapted to leaping and that feed on warm-blooded animals

Illustration of flea

Phrases

flea in one's ear

: rebuke

sent him away with a flea in his ear

Examples of flea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Gold plan: Includes annual wellness exams, vaccinations, flea and heartworm prevention, deworming and dental cleaning, with an annual benefit limit is $250. —Liz Knueven, CNBC, 18 Jan. 2025

Under the care of a veterinarian, Naya received an oral flea and tick treatment designed to kill the mites and is expected to recover fully, according to Newsweek. —Luke Chinman, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025

While the fleas die in the human gut, Guinea worms—which are impervious to stomach acid—survive and start mating. —Charles Schmidt, Scientific American, 29 Dec. 2024

Oxpeckers offer great grooming services in return for a nutritious diet of fleas and dead skin from herbivores. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fle, from Old English flēa; akin to Old High German flōh flea

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing flea

• beach flea
• fit as a flea
• flea beetle
• flea-bitten
• flea collar
• flea-flicker
• flea market
• jigger flea
• sand flea
• water flea

Kids Definition

flea

noun

ˈflē 

: any of an order of small wingless bloodsucking insects with a hard body and legs used for leaping

Medical Definition

flea

noun

ˈflē 

: any of the order Siphonaptera comprising wingless bloodsucking insects that have a hard laterally compressed body and legs adapted to leaping and that feed on warm-blooded animals see cat flea, chigoe sense 1, dog flea, rat flea, sand flea, sticktight flea