cicada: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowNeutral to Formal/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “cicada” mean?
A large, winged insect known for its loud, rhythmic mating song produced by males.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, winged insect known for its loud, rhythmic mating song produced by males.
Metaphorically, can symbolize cyclical reappearance, summer, noise, or persistence due to its periodic, noisy emergence every several years.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word itself is identical. Pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA). The insect is less common in the UK, so familiarity may be lower.
Connotations
Both regions associate it with summer and loud noise. In the US, especially the East and Midwest, periodic broods are a notable cultural and natural event.
Frequency
More frequently used in American English due to the prevalence and dramatic emergence of periodic cicadas.
Grammar
How to Use “cicada” in a Sentence
The [ADJECTIVE] cicada [VERBed].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used, except in metaphorical contexts about recurring events ('a cicada-like product launch cycle').
Academic
Common in entomology, biology, and ecology papers discussing life cycles, acoustics, or brood dynamics.
Everyday
Used to describe the background noise of summer or to remark on the emergence of periodic broods.
Technical
Specific to taxonomy (Cicadidae), life cycle studies (hemimetabolous development), and bioacoustics.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cicada”
- Mispronunciation (e.g., /kɪˈkɑːdə/).
- Misspelling (e.g., 'cicada', 'cicada').
- Confusing with locusts or crickets.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Cicadas (order Hemiptera) are not locusts (a type of grasshopper, order Orthoptera). Cicadas do not swarm to devour crops like locusts.
Male cicadas produce sound using specialized organs called tymbals—drum-like structures on their abdomens that vibrate rapidly.
No. They do not bite or sting. In large numbers, they can be a nuisance due to noise and their shed exoskeletons, but they are not harmful.
The long, prime-numbered cycles (13 or 17 years) are believed to be an evolutionary strategy to avoid syncing with predator population cycles, ensuring more adults survive to reproduce.
A large, winged insect known for its loud, rhythmic mating song produced by males.
Cicada is usually neutral to formal/scientific in register.
Cicada: in British English it is pronounced /sɪˈkɑː.də/, and in American English it is pronounced /səˈkeɪ.də/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To drone on like a cicada (rare, descriptive)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CICADA' sounds like 'SI-CA-DA'. Imagine a 'SI-ren' (loud noise) in the 'CA-r' from 'DA-d' every summer.
Conceptual Metaphor
PERSISTENT NOISE IS A CICADA (e.g., 'The politician's speech droned like a cicada.'); CYCLICAL REAPPEARANCE IS A CICADA'S EMERGENCE (e.g., 'Fashion trends are like cicadas, returning every decade.').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key characteristic of some cicada species?