locust

noun

• 1a large and mainly tropical grasshopper with strong powers of flight. It is usually solitary, but from time to time there is a population explosion, and it migrates in vast swarms that cause extensive damage to crops.

  • Several species in the family Acrididae, including the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria), which is sometimes seen in Europe
• (also seventeen-year locust) the periodical cicada.

• 2 (also locust bean) the large edible pod of some plants of the pea family, in particular the carob bean, which is said to resemble a locust.

• 3 (also locust tree) any of a number of pod-bearing trees of the pea family, in particular the carob tree and the black locust.