Pesticide Meaning
/ˈpɛstɪsaɪd/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAnything, especially a synthetic substance but also any substance (e.g. sulfur), or virus, bacterium, or other organism, which kills or suppresses the activities of pests.
Sentence Examples
She sprayed pesticide on the flowers.
I'm afraid of heavy pesticide use.
The farmer sprayed organic pesticide on the apple trees.
CEFR Practice Quiz
To protect his tomato plants from insects, the farmer sprayed ____ on the leaves.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The organic farm refused to use any ____ and relied on natural methods to protect the crops.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English pest Latin -i-bor. English -i- Proto-Indo-European *kh₂eyd-der. Proto-Italic *kaidō Latin caedō Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂ Proto-Italic *-ā Latin -a Latin -cīdader. Middle French -cidebor. English -cide English pesticide From pest + -i- + -cide.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"“Twelve pesticides commonly applied to citrus groves are slated for study in the project’s plots,” reports Tom S. Bellows, UC Riverside assistant entomologist. They include four acaricides (Morestan, Kelthane, Pictran, Vendex), four thripsicides (Cygon, Carzol, Orthene, Sabadilla), and four scalicides (Parathion, Supracide, Lorsban, Sevin)."
— 1983 May 26, “Pesticide residue effects under study”, in The Californian, volume 25, number 16, Temecula, Calif., page A-11:
"Too much pesticide was applied and then washed from the fields by rains and surface runoff."
— 2001, David McConnell, The Good Earth: Companion Guide, McGraw-Hill Higher Education, →ISBN, page 1.12:
"Pesticide and fertilizer use has been recorded since ancient times, […]"
— 2011, Allan S. Felsot, Pesticides and Health: Myths vs. Realities, page 4:
"Diluted neem oil can be effective as a pesticide and can control various fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew, on animals and plants."
— 2013, Meg Stout, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Aquaponic Gardening, →ISBN:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
To protect his tomato plants from insects, the farmer sprayed ____ on the leaves.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The organic farm refused to use any ____ and relied on natural methods to protect the crops.