formicate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very rare/ObsoleteLiterary/Technical
Quick answer
What does “formicate” mean?
to crawl or swarm like ants.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to crawl or swarm like ants
to move in a crawling, swarming, or teeming manner; to have a sensation like insects crawling on the skin
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional differences; equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Archaic, poetic, or technical.
Frequency
Virtually never used in contemporary speech or writing in either variety.
Grammar
How to Use “formicate” in a Sentence
The [plural subject] formicate [adverbial of place/manner]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “formicate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The ants began to formicate over the picnic blanket.
- A strange sensation made his skin formicate.
American English
- The insects formicated across the forest floor.
- Her scalp formicated with nervous energy.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial use]
American English
- [No standard adverbial use]
adjective
British English
- [No standard adjectival use]
American English
- [No standard adjectival use]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rarely in historical biology/entomology texts.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Extremely rare in medical/entomological descriptions.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “formicate”
- Using it to mean 'to form' or 'to formulate'.
- Using it in modern contexts where 'swarm' or 'crawl' would be natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and considered archaic or highly technical. You will almost never encounter it in modern English.
The related noun is 'formication', which specifically refers to the medical sensation of insects crawling on the skin.
No, that is a common mistake due to the similarity with the word 'form'. They are false friends. 'Formicate' only relates to crawling like ants.
You might find it in very old literary works, historical scientific (entomological) writings, or occasionally in medical texts describing the sensation of formication.
to crawl or swarm like ants.
Formicate is usually literary/technical in register.
Formicate: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɔːmɪkeɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɔːrmɪkeɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this rare word]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of FORMIcate – FORMIca is the Latin word for ant. So it means 'to move like ants'.
Conceptual Metaphor
MOVEMENT IS INSECT-LIKE CRAWLING
Practice
Quiz
What is the core meaning of 'formicate'?