locust

noun

lo·​cust ˈlō-kəst 

1

: short-horned grasshopper

especially : a migratory grasshopper often traveling in vast swarms and stripping the areas passed of all vegetation

2

: cicada

3

a

: any of various leguminous trees: such as

(1)

: carob sense 1

(2)

: black locust

(3)

: honey locust

b

: the wood of a locust tree

Examples of locust in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Both broods of cicadas are large-bodied, have large compound eyes, and are sometimes mistakenly called locusts, said the University of Illinois. —Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 17 Apr. 2024

No, this isn't something from the Book of Revelations — locusts and cicadas are separate species. —Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 7 Mar. 2024

Unfortunately for Randall, he’s cut off from the others and tries to escape, when the locusts descend upon him. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024

In political cartoons from the turn of the 20th century, Eastern European and Jewish immigrants were depicted as rats, while Chinese immigrants were portrayed as a horde of grasshoppers – echoing imagery from Revelation, where locusts with human faces swarm the Earth. —Yii-Jan Lin, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French locuste, from Latin locusta

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing locust

• black locust
• desert locust
• honey locust
• locust bean
• seventeen-year locust

Kids Definition

locust

noun

lo·​cust ˈlō-kəst 

1

a

: short-horned grasshopper

especially : a grasshopper that often migrates in vast swarms and eats up the plants in its course

b

: cicada

2

a

: any of various trees of the legume family with hard wood

b

: the wood of a locust