insecticide

/in'sektisaid/

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Word: Insecticide

Definition: An insecticide is a chemical substance that is used to kill insects. People use insecticides to protect plants, homes, and other areas from insect damage.

Usage Instructions:

• Part of Speech: Noun
• Countability: Insecticide can be countable (e.g., "three insecticides") or uncountable (e.g., "We need insecticide to control the pests.").

Examples:

1. "The farmer sprayed insecticide on his crops to keep the bugs away."
2. "Make sure to follow the instructions carefully when using insecticide to ensure safety."

Advanced Usage:

• Insecticides can be categorized into different types based on their chemical composition and how they work, such as systemic insecticides (which are absorbed by plants) or contact insecticides (which kill insects on contact).

Word Variants:

• Insecticidal (adjective): Describing something that has the ability to kill insects.

  • Example: "The insecticidal spray worked effectively against the pests."

• Insect (noun): The creature that the insecticide is designed to kill.

  • Example: "Bees are important insects for pollination."

Different Meanings:

While "insecticide" primarily refers to chemicals used for killing insects, it can also be used metaphorically in discussions about removing unwanted elements or pests in other contexts.

Synonyms:

• Pesticide (broader term that includes chemicals for killing pests, not just insects)
• Bug spray (informal term for insecticides used in homes)
• Insect killer (more casual term)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While there aren't specific idioms or phrasal verbs that directly relate to "insecticide," you might hear phrases related to pest control: - "Take care of the pests": This phrase means to deal with unwanted insects or problems, similar to using insecticides.

Conclusion:

Insecticides are important tools for managing insect populations, especially in agriculture and home gardening.

Academic

Noun

1. a chemical used to kill insects

Synonyms

• insect powder