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pest control

pest control

11 2.6
To stop insects and rodents that harm homes, crops or people's health
  • noun
  • /pɛst kənˈtroʊl/
translation icon : control de plagas
  • Effective pest control is essential for maintaining a clean and healthy home environment.
  • insect pest control
  • pest control contractor
  • biological pest control

What what I did was I ended up saying to the next farmer, could I get some of these pest control people up?

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Examples

Synonyms

disinfestation
vspest control
  • Specialized
9.1

The removal of unwanted insects and animals from buildings or stored food

is broader, includes managing various insects and rodents to protect health and property

How Thorough

eradication
19 6.8
extermination
  • NSFW
32 7.4
pest control
11 2.6
prevention
221 2.4
monitoring
130 3.2

Surface Forms

pest control singular
pest controls plural

Morphology

pest + control

The meaning 'the process of managing or eliminating pests' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'pest' (a harmful animal or insect) with 'control' (to manage or restrain), forming a standard noun–noun compound denoting the activity of controlling pests. This is a literal, cross-linguistically common composition using frequent words, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The name pest control comes from farmers and people in houses who wanted to control small animals and insects called pests that ate food and crops. So the picture of traps and sprays used to keep bugs and rodents away explains why it now means 'managing or getting rid of' harmful animals and insects.