periodical cicada
1
8.5
- noun
- /ˌpɪrɪˈɒdɪkəl sɪˈkeɪdə/
- US
:
cigarra periódica
- The clockwork appearance of periodical cicadas in late May to mid-June has long fascinated and perplexed entomologists.
Examples
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During a mass emergence of periodical cicadas, almost any animal, from raccoons to raptors, will prey on them.
Academic text (2002) -
As impressive as the numbers of annual cicadas can be, however, their emergence pales in comparison with that of periodical cicadas (genus Magicicada) found in the eastern United States.
Academic text (2002) -
Periodical cicadas are handsomely colored.
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Periodical cicadas are among the longest-lived insects presently known.
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The simultaneous emergence of more than one species of periodical cicada creates an interesting mating challenge.
Academic text (2002) -
But the acoustical sophistication of periodical cicadas doesn't end there.
Academic text (2002) -
But researchers Richard Karban, Carrie Black, and Steven Weinbaum of the University of California, Davis, believe they have discovered how periodical cicadas time their emergence.
Academic text (2002) -
The periodical cicada emerges every 17 years, creating a remarkable spectacle for nature lovers.
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During its mass emergence, the periodical cicada fills the air with loud mating calls in the summer.
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Many residents eagerly await the arrival of the periodical cicada, which signals the start of summer gatherings.
Synonyms
A North American cicada that emerges from underground every 13 or 17 years in large numbers
A large noisy insect in North America that appears in big groups about every 17 years
A North American insect that lives underground for many years and emerges in large numbers every 13 to 17 years
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'periodical' means occurring at regular intervals and 'cicada' is an insect, so together they denote a cicada that emerges periodically. Although the precise 13- or 17-year lifecycle is specialized factual detail, the core sense is immediately derivable by a B1 learner who knows both words.
Etymology
Periodical cicada comes from the insect's life: the word periodical means a long, regular time and young cicadas live underground for 13 or 17 years before huge numbers suddenly come out. That's why the name means a cicada that appears only 'every 13 or 17 years'.