Meaning & Definition of word "Pest"
Pest
/pɛst/
noun:
- 1. A destructive insect or other animal that attacks crops, food, or livestock.
- Example: Farmers often struggle with various pests that threaten their harvests.
- 2. A person or thing that is annoying or a nuisance.
- Example: Stop being such a pest and let me finish my work.
- 3. A disease or other agent of harm.
- Example: 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 of pest
Meaning: A pesky or annoying person.
● Example Sentence: Don't be such a pest; let me work in peace.
Meaning: A clingy friend or acquaintance.
● Example Sentence: She can be a bit of a pest when she wants to hang out all the time.