termite

noun

ter·​mite ˈtər-ˌmīt 

: any of numerous pale-colored soft-bodied social insects (order Isoptera) that live in colonies consisting usually of winged sexual forms, wingless sterile workers, and soldiers, feed on wood, and include some which are very destructive to wooden structures and trees

called also white ant

Examples of termite in a Sentence

The house has a lot of termite damage.

Recent Examples on the Web

Similarly, gutters can be an attractive location for birds, termites, and other pests to build nests, so cleaning the gutters regularly is essential for protecting the home from these invaders. —Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Aug. 2024

If the food— ants, termites, cockroaches or whatever—are eliminated, spiders will find somewhere else to live. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 12 Aug. 2024

No matter the wood type, weather, especially extreme temperatures, which cause wood to expand and contract, increasing the risk of moisture incursion, can adversely affect the lifespan—as can common wood-loving pests like termites and carpenter bees. —Elizabeth Hutchison Hicklin, Southern Living, 5 Aug. 2024

Clothes moths can also eat away at upholstery, and termites can infest anything made of wood. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Termit-, Termes, genus of termites, from Late Latin, a worm that eats wood, alteration of Latin tarmit-, tarmes; akin to Greek tetrainein to bore — more at throw entry 1

First Known Use

1781, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing termite

• Formosan termite

Kids Definition

termite

noun

ter·​mite ˈtər-ˌmīt 

: any of a group of pale-colored soft-bodied social insects that feed on wood, live in colonies consisting of winged sexual forms, wingless sterile workers, and often soldiers, and that include some very destructive to wooden structures and trees

called also white ant