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Glite Dictionary
housefly

housefly

4 1.3
A small fly that lives in houses and can spread germs
  • noun
  • /ˈhaʊsˌflaɪ/
translation icon : mosca doméstica
  • The storage of organic waste in open containers also attracts houseflies to the household kitchen.
  • houseflies in the kitchen
  • the presence of houseflies

Examples

  • During the picnic, houseflys constantly bothered us as we tried to enjoy our meal.

  • - It's just a common housefly.

    The Fly (1958)

  • A common housefly lands on my arm.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Household solid waste storage practices, particularly storage of waste in the home, are associated with the presence of houseflies in the kitchen during cooking (r = .17, p < .0001) (Figure 1).

    Academic text (2005)

  • A total of 24 (85.7 percent) of children with dysentery cases live in homes where the mothers reported that houseflies were always present in the kitchen.

    Academic text (2005)

  • There was a positive correlation between the presence of houseflies in the kitchen during cooking and the incidence of childhood diarrhea (r = .36, p < .0001).

    Academic text (2005)

  • The houseflys swarmed around the open garbage can, drawn in by the smell.

  • In summer, I often find houseflys buzzing around the kitchen as I cook.

Synonyms

fly
vshousefly
327 1.0

A small insect with two wings that moves quickly in the air

is a specific household pest species that spreads disease in homes
house fly
vshousefly
1.6

A small common fly that lives in houses and can spread disease

is written as a single word rather than two
Musca domestica
vshousefly
  • Specialized
6.2

A common housefly that lives near people and can spread disease

is the everyday common name used outside scientific contexts

How Dangerous

mosquito
70 1.0
sand fly
2 6.6
biting midge
  • Specialized
8.6
gnat
16 1.3
housefly
4 1.3

Surface Forms

housefly singular
houseflies plural

Morphology

housefly = house + fly (transparent) = house + fly

A straightforward compound of two common nouns where the meaning (a fly associated with houses) follows directly from its parts.

Etymology

Housefly is a simple word made from house ('home') and fly (the insect), so it literally means a fly that lives in houses. That's why housefly refers to the common fly you find in homes that can carry germs.