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louse

Pronunciation: /laʊs/

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Definition of louse

noun

  • 1 (plural lice /lʌɪs/) either of two small wingless parasitic insects that live on the skin of mammals and birds:
    • (sucking louse) an insect with piercing mouthparts, found only on mammals (order Anoplura or Siphunculata).See also body louse, head louse (biting louse) an insect with a large head and jaws, found chiefly on birds (order Mallophaga).
  • used in names of small invertebrates that parasitize aquatic animals or infest plants, e.g. fish louse.
  • 2 (plural louses) informal a contemptible or unpleasant person.

verb

[with object]
  • 1 (louse something up) informal spoil or ruin something:he loused up my promotion chances
  • 2 archaic remove lice from.

Origin:

Old English lūs, (plural) lȳs, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch luis, German Laus

louse in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of louse in the US English dictionary

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