fruit fly

noun

: any of various small dipteran flies (such as a drosophila) whose larvae feed on fruit or decaying vegetable matter

Examples of fruit fly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Inspectors found about 15 fruit flies in a ware washing station. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2025

Today, scientists have many more tools at their disposal, enabling them to make specific cells in a mouse’s brain glow under a microscope or to remote-control a living fruit fly. —Celia Ford, Vox, 3 Mar. 2025

The researchers found that preventing F-actin accumulation, caused more autophagy in the brains of aged fruit flies. —New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2024

The study tested the effect of mifepristone and another drug used to suppress the immune system during organ transplants, on fruit flies, and found that both significantly increase the length of their lives. —Alex Knapp, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1753, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fruit fly

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

Kids Definition

fruit fly

noun

: any of various small two-winged flies whose larvae feed on fruit or decaying vegetable matter

Medical Definition

fruit fly

noun

: any of various small dipteran flies (as a drosophila) whose larvae feed on fruit or decaying vegetable matter