English Explanatory Dictionary

pest

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A pestilence, i.e. a deadly epidemic, a deadly plague.
  2. Any destructive insect that attacks crops or livestock; an agricultural pest.
  3. An annoying person, a nuisance.
  4. An animal regarded as a nuisance, destructive, or a parasite, vermin.
  5. An invasive weed.
name
  1. One of the originally three separate cities that were united in 1873 to become the Hungarian capital, Budapest.
  2. The corresponding part of the current-day city of Budapest, on the eastern side of the Danube.
  3. A county in central Hungary, surrounding Budapest.

Pronunciation

/pɛst/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-pest.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-pest.wav /pɛʃt/

Word forms

pest pests Pesth

Etymology

In the 16th century in the sense of "pestilence" and specifically bubonic plague from Middle French peste (“pestilence”) (whence French peste). The other meanings are recorded soon after. Ultimately from Latin pestis.

Synonyms

bug

Related words

pester pesthole pesthouse pesticidal pesticide pestiferous pestilence pestilent pestilential pesting

Derived words

antipest building and pest chicken pest empest fowl pest garden pest impest integrated pest management nagana pest nonpest pest control pest controller pestful pestify pestlike Pestminster pestology pestproof pesty serial pest sex pest tin pest
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