LOUSE Definition & Meaning

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louse

[ noun lous; verb lous, louz ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural lice louses

any small, wingless insect of the order Anoplura sucking louse, parasitic on humans and other mammals and having mouthparts adapted for sucking, as Pediculus humanus humanus body louse or Pediculus humanus capitis head louse and Phthirius pubis crab louse, or pubic louse.
any insect of the order Mallophaga bird louse, biting louse, or chewing louse, parasitic on birds and mammals, having mouthparts adapted for biting.
plant louse.
Slang. a contemptible person, especially an unethical one.

verb (used with object)

loused, lousing.

to delouse.

verb phrase

Slang. to spoil; botch:
Miscasting loused up the movie.

louse

/ ��ʊ�� /

noun

any wingless bloodsucking insect of the order Anoplura: includes Pediculus capitis ( head louse ), Pediculus corporis ( body louse ), and the crab louse, all of which infest man pedicular
biting louse or bird louse
any wingless insect of the order Mallophaga, such as the chicken louse: external parasites of birds and mammals with biting mouthparts
any of various similar but unrelated insects, such as the plant louse and book louse
slang.
louses an unpleasant or mean person

verb

to remove lice from
slang.
foll by up to ruin or spoil

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of louse¹

First recorded before 900; 1910–15 louse fordef 4; Middle English lous(e), luse, plural lise, lice; Old English ��ū��, plural ��̄��; cognate with Dutch luis, German Laus, Old Norse ��ū��

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of louse¹

Old English ��ū��; related to Old High German, Old Norse ��ū��

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

We get hints that Paul’s previous self was a louse, but Holland’s smile is so soft that it’s hard to believe he was ever a nasty, selfish jerk.

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Victor was a louse in his first marriage and father of the year in his second.

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An initial assessment revealed that the whale was underweight and had an abnormal amount of whale lice, suggesting she was suffering from some illness or lack of adequate nutrition, he said.

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She was described as gaunt, with dark rings under her eyes and the worst case of head lice an expert had seen in her 30-year career.

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Actress Jenny Mollen is itching to make sure everyone knows she didn’t realize she had head lice until she was already on her recent five-hour flight.

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