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to louse

to louse

1 8.8
To remove small insects from hair or skin by combing and cleaning
  • verb
  • /laʊs/
translation icon : despiojar
  • She spent the afternoon lousing the old cushions to get rid of any hidden lice.

Examples

  • VINCE: Don't "sonny" me, you louse!

  • The veterinarian had to louse the dog carefully to ensure it was free from any parasites.

  • Before the camping trip, we decided to louse the sleeping bags to remove any pests.

Synonyms

to delouse
vsto louse
4 8.1

To remove lice from a person, animal, or thing

emphasizes searching and cleaning thoroughly to ensure complete removal

Idioms

9.1

To be guilty and ashamed after treating someone badly

Phrasal Verbs

to louse up
  • Informal
4 8.1

To make a mess of a plan or task by doing it badly

Compounds

body louse
  • Specialized
8.7

A small insect that lives in clothing, bites people, and can spread disease

bird louse
  • Specialized
9.9

A small wingless insect that lives on birds and bites their skin or feathers

biting louse
  • Specialized
9.9

A small wingless insect that lives on birds and eats their feathers and skin

book louse
  • Specialized
9.6

A very small insect that has no wings and eats mold on books and paper and can damage them

A small insect that lives on chickens and other birds and eats their blood

A small insect that feeds on clover plants and can damage them

A small insect that lives on the head or body of people and drinks their blood

crab louse
  • Specialized
9.8

A small insect that lives in pubic hair and other body hair and makes the skin itch

Small insect that lives on tree bark and eats fungi and dead plant parts

A small insect that lives on tree bark and eats mold or tiny plant bits

fish louse
  • Specialized
9.5

A small animal that lives on fish and eats their blood or skin

lens louse
  • Specialized
9.9

A small animal that lives on fish in aquariums and harms them

louse fly
  • Specialized
9.9

A small insect that sucks blood and lives in feathers or fur

A small insect that lives on grape plants and damages them

A small insect that lives in human hair and feeds on blood

jumping plant louse
  • Specialized
9.9

A small insect with strong back legs that jumps and feeds on plant juices

pubic louse
  • Specialized
9.1

A small insect that lives in the hair of the private parts and causes itching

onion louse
  • Specialized
9.9

A small insect that eats and harms onion and tobacco plants

8.8

A small insect that eats pea plants and damages crops

A small insect like an aphid that sucks juices from plants

sea louse
  • Specialized
8.9

A small sea animal that lives on fish and sometimes eats dead plants or animals

sucking louse
  • Specialized
9.9

A small wingless insect that lives on birds or mammals and drinks their blood

shaft louse
  • Specialized
9.9

A small insect that lives on chickens' feathers and causes itching

whale louse
  • Specialized
9.9

A small sea animal like a tiny crab that lives on the skin of whales

7.4

A small grey animal with a flat, segmented body that lives under damp logs or stones

A small insect that looks like white cotton on plants and sucks their juice

How Thorough

to disinfect
18 3.7
to louse
1 8.8
wash
89 1.0
to comb out
1 2.4

Surface Forms

louse infinitive
loused past
loused past participle
lousing present participle
louses third person singular

Etymology

Louse as a verb comes from the noun and originally meant to pick the insects out of hair or fur. So to louse someone is to search and clean them carefully to remove the bugs.