fire ant
8
3.6
- noun
- /ˈfaɪər ænt/
- US
:
hormiga de fuego
- The fire ant is known for its painful sting, which can cause a burning sensation.
- fire ant population
- fire ant colonies
- fire ant sting
Oh well then slather yourself and honey and let the fire ants have at you.
- Oh well then slather yourself and honey and let the fire ants have at you.
- One of the ME worms main predators is fire ants.
Examples
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I've been studying fire ants for 17 years, and I've never seen anything like it.
Academic text (1994) -
The three scientists have seen serious fire ant infestations before, in the United States.
Academic text (1994) -
Is that a fire ant hill down there?
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"Why run from fire ants?"
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We heard about the army of fire ants.
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Scientists have discovered that a fire ant foraging for food finds its way back home.
Academic text (1994) -
Scientists say development may be one factor in fire ant population explosions.
Academic text (1994) -
For people allergic to its sting, the fire ant can cause anaphylactic shock or even death.
Academic text (1994) -
Unusual behavioral traits allow the fire ant to form large colonies and dominate the territories it invades.
Academic text (1994) -
Pest control operators now identify fire ants as the number-one indoor ant pest problem in North Florida.
Academic text (1994)
Synonyms
1
9.4
A group of small ants called fire ants that sting painfully
How Dangerous
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun is a compositional compound: 'fire' modifies 'ant' to indicate an ant with qualities associated with fire (a burning/stinging sensation and often red colour). This modifier+noun pattern is common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows 'fire' and 'ant' can reasonably infer it denotes a type of ant with a painful, burning sting.
Etymology
Fire ant The name comes from the strong 'burning' feeling of their 'sting' and from their red-brown color, so people compared them to fire and called the little ant a fire ant.