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termite

termite

63 2.9
A small pale insect that lives in large groups, eats wood, and damages houses
  • noun
  • /ˈtɜrmaɪt/
translation icon : termita
  • It's probably crawling with termites.
  • a termite colony
  • wood damaged by termites
  • termite control

So we treat it first for like termites and all the bugs for the wood.

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Examples

  • There are termites that build towers that they live in.

  • Results show that areawide treatment of the 15 blocks is reducing termite numbers and activity.

    Academic text (2000)
  • On the left you see a termite castle, an Australian termite castle.

  • So in this case there was some obvious termite damage, dry rot, maybe, maybe a little water damage.

  • The whole place was swayback because the termites had eaten out the joists and side beams.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The mound ventilates the nest, a service that the termites desperately need.

    Academic text (2002)
  • You've got termites.

  • We had to call an exterminator to remove the termite infestation in our basement.

  • The contractor showed us the damage caused by termites in the wooden framework of the house.

  • Before buying the old barn, we checked for signs of termite activity to avoid costly repairs.

Synonyms

borer
vstermite
3 8.1

An insect or larva that makes holes in wood and damages trees

focuses on a small pale social insect that eats wood and harms structures
white ant
vstermite
  • Archaic
6.3

A small pale insect that eats wood and lives in groups

is the same insect expressed using a different common name
woodborer
vstermite
  • Specialized
8.4

An insect or small animal like a beetle that makes holes in wood and damages it

is a social wood-eating insect rather than any boring organism

Compounds

dry-wood termite
  • Specialized
8.1

A small insect that lives in and eats dry wood not touching the ground

powder-post termite
  • Specialized
9.8

A small insect that bores into dry wood in houses and leaves powdery dust

How Damaging

termite
63 2.9
powder-post beetle
  • Specialized
9.4

Surface Forms

termite singular
termites plural

Etymology

Termite comes from an old Latin word termes, meaning 'woodworm' or a wood-eating insect. That's why termites are the small insects famous for eating and damaging wood.