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Translate files Pest
/pɛst/
Meaning & Definition
noun
A destructive insect or other animal that attacks crops, food, or livestock.
Farmers often struggle with various pests that threaten their harvests.
A person or thing that is annoying or a nuisance.
Stop being such a pest and let me finish my work.
A disease or other agent of harm.
The pests of the tree affected its growth and led to its early demise.
Etymology
Late Middle English, from Old French 'peste', from Latin 'pestis' meaning 'plague' or 'disease'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
pestering someone
Annoying or bothering someone persistently.
pest control
Methods used to manage or eliminate pests.
pestilence
A fatal epidemic disease, often referring to a plague.
Related Words
insect
A small arthropod animal that has six legs and generally one or two pairs of wings.
vermin
Wild animals that are believed to be harmful to crops, farm animals, or game, or that carry disease.
infestation
The presence of an overwhelming number of pests or parasites.
Slang Meanings
A pesky or annoying person.
Don't be such a pest; let me work in peace.
A clingy friend or acquaintance.
She can be a bit of a pest when she wants to hang out all the time.