Is 'thrip' the singular form of 'thrips'?

No. The word 'thrips' is both singular and plural. One insect is a thrips.

Are thrips the same as aphids?

No. They are different insect orders. Thrips (Thysanoptera) are generally smaller and more slender than aphids (Hemiptera), though both can be plant pests.

Can thrips bite humans?

Some species may bite if they land on skin, causing minor, temporary irritation, but they do not feed on blood or live on humans.

How do you pronounce 'thrips'?

It is pronounced /θrɪps/, with a 'th' sound as in 'thin', a short 'i' as in 'sit', and a final 'ps' sound as in 'lips'.

Is “thrips” formal?

Thrips is usually technical (entomology, agriculture, gardening) in register.

thrips: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low

UK/θrɪps/US/θrɪps/

Technical (Entomology, Agriculture, Gardening)

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Quick answer

What does “thrips” mean?

A tiny, slender insect of the order Thysanoptera, often a pest on plants.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A tiny, slender insect of the order Thysanoptera, often a pest on plants.

The term can sometimes be used informally to refer to any very small, fast-moving pest insect, especially one that damages crops or ornamental plants.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No major differences in meaning or usage. Term is used identically in scientific and agricultural contexts in both regions.

Connotations

Neutral/technical. Carries a negative connotation only in the context of crop or plant damage.

Frequency

Equally low frequency in both varieties, confined to specialist fields.

Grammar

How to Use “thrips” in a Sentence

[thrips] + [verb] + [plant/crop][verb] + [thrips] + [on/from/in] + [noun]

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

control thripsthrips infestationonion thripswestern flower thrips

medium

damage from thripsspray for thripsmonitor for thripsspecies of thrips

weak

tiny thripsproblem with thripsfind thripssee thrips

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Used in the agricultural supply industry, e.g., 'Our new insecticide is highly effective against thrips.'

Academic

Used in entomology and plant pathology research papers and textbooks.

Everyday

Rare. Might be used by gardeners, e.g., 'I think my roses have thrips.'

Technical

The primary context. Detailed discussion of life cycles, resistance management, and control strategies.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “thrips”

Neutral

thunderflies (regional, UK)

Weak

plant pesttiny insect

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “thrips”

beneficial insectpollinatorpredator

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “thrips”

Using 'thrip' as the singular form (incorrect). Adding an 's' to make it plural (e.g., 'thripses' is incorrect).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No. The word 'thrips' is both singular and plural. One insect is a thrips.
: No. They are different insect orders. Thrips (Thysanoptera) are generally smaller and more slender than aphids (Hemiptera), though both can be plant pests.
: Some species may bite if they land on skin, causing minor, temporary irritation, but they do not feed on blood or live on humans.
: It is pronounced /θrɪps/, with a 'th' sound as in 'thin', a short 'i' as in 'sit', and a final 'ps' sound as in 'lips'.
: A tiny, slender insect of the order Thysanoptera, often a pest on plants.
: Thrips is usually technical (entomology, agriculture, gardening) in register.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'THRIPS' are THin, stRIPed peSts.

Conceptual Metaphor

INVISIBLE THIEF (steals plant vitality unseen).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

If your indoor plants have silvery streaks on the leaves, you might have an infestation of .

Multiple Choice

What is the correct singular and plural form of the word?