periodical cicada

noun

Examples of periodical cicada in a Sentence

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Plus, periodical cicadas emerge only to molt, breed, lay eggs and die, all within a few weeks. Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 12 Apr. 2024 The cicadas emerging this year are Brood XIII — a group of 17-year periodical cicadas — and Brood XIX — a group of 13-year periodical cicadas. Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 8 June 2024 This year's cicada emergence was a double whammy of insects, with two groups of periodical cicadas that only come out of the ground every 13 or 17 years making a simultaneous appearance. Li Cohen, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2024 Known as periodical cicadas, these insects show up every 13 or 17 years, depending on the species. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 22 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for periodical cicada 

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of periodical cicada was in 1876

Dictionary Entries Near periodical cicada

Cite this Entry

“Periodical cicada.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/periodical%20cicada. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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