US /ɪnˈsɛktəˌsaɪd/ UK /ɪnˈsɛktɪsaɪd/
noun

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a substance used to kill insects

    They sprayed the orchard with insecticide before the beetles could spread.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a substance used to kill... pesticidebug spray
Word family
Derived forms insecticidal
Related forms insectinsectivorehomicidepesticide

Etymology

A modern coinage from insect (from Latin insectum 'cut into segments', from insecare 'to cut into', from in- + secare 'to cut') + -cide (from Latin caedere 'to kill').

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