English Lexicon

Pesticide

/ˈpɛs.tɪˌsaɪd/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A substance used for destroying insects or other organisms harmful to cultivated plants or to animals.

    "Farmers often apply pesticide to protect their crops from pests."
  2. 2

    A chemical agent that kills pests, including insects, weeds, and fungi.

    "The use of pesticide has raised concerns about environmental and health impacts."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'pesticide' is derived from the Latin root 'pestis', meaning 'plague' or 'pest', combined with the suffix '-cide', which comes from the Latin 'caedere', meaning 'to kill'. The word emerged in the mid-20th century as agricultural practices evolved to include chemical methods for controlling pests.

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