Word: Delouse
Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: To delouse means to remove lice from a person or animal. Lice are small insects that can live in hair or on skin and can cause itching and discomfort.
Usage Instructions: The word “delouse” is often used when talking about cleaning someone’s hair or body of lice, especially after being in a place where lice are common, like schools or camps. You can use it in both formal and informal contexts.
Example Sentence: "After the children came back from summer camp, their parents had to delouse them to make sure they were free of lice."
Advanced Usage: In a broader sense, "delouse" can also be used metaphorically to refer to cleaning or purging something of unwanted elements. For example, "The company needed to delouse its management to improve its culture."
Word Variants: - Delousing (noun): The act of removing lice. Example: "The delousing process took a long time." - Deloused (adjective): Describes someone or something that has been treated to remove lice. Example: "The deloused animals were much healthier."
Different Meanings: The primary meaning of “delouse” is related to lice infestation. However, there are no significant alternative meanings outside of this context.
Synonyms: - Clean - Sanitize - De-infest
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:While “delouse” does not have specific idioms or phrasal verbs associated with it, the idea of removing something unwanted can be expressed in phrases like: - "Clean house" (to get rid of unwanted things or people) - "Clear out" (to remove unwanted items or people)
Summary: To "delouse" is to remove lice from someone or something, ensuring they are clean and free from these pests.