common wasp

2.4

A small flying insect with black and yellow stripes that makes nests near houses and can sting

noun

: avispa común

Unlike the hornet, the common wasp is smaller and more likely to scavenge at picnics.

Examples

He was stung by a common wasp while eating outside.
A common wasp built a nest under our garden shed last summer.
The common wasp is often seen in gardens during summer.
Have you ever been stung by a common wasp?
A common wasp built a nest under our garden shed last summer.
He was stung by a common wasp while eating outside.
The common wasp is often seen in gardens during summer.

Synonyms

wasp

vscommon wasp

45 1.0

A flying insect like a bee with a narrow waist and a sting, often yellow and black

is the specific species within that broader insect group

yellowjacket

vscommon wasp

1 4.6

A small aggressive wasp with yellow and black stripes that stings painfully

is not mainly known for aggression or a painful sting

Vespula vulgaris

vscommon wasp

Specialized

8.2

A common wasp with yellow and black stripes that lives in large groups

is the familiar everyday name rather than the Latin label

Surface Forms

common wasp singular

common wasps plural

Morphology

common + wasp

The noun phrase 'common wasp' is directly compositional: 'common' (frequently occurring/typical) modifies 'wasp' (the insect), so the phrase denotes a frequently occurring species of wasp. This is a standard naming pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Common wasp is a straightforward name made from the words common and wasp. common means 'ordinary' or often seen, and wasp is the small yellow-and-black insect that can sting, so the phrase refers to the usual wasp people find near homes and picnics.