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Housefly - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A housefly is a common flying insect found worldwide, often seen near human habitats. It has a gray body, red eyes, and spreads germs by landing on food and waste.

housefly

/ˈhaʊsˌflaɪ/ /ˈhaʊsˌflaɪ/

Definition:

A common flying insect found in homes, often attracted to food and waste.

Synonyms:

fly, musca domestica, pest insect

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

butterfly, dragonfly

Common Collocations:

buzzing housefly, swat a housefly, housefly infestation

Derivatives:

houseflies, housefly's

Usage Tips:

Use "housefly" to refer specifically to the common domestic fly, not other flying insects.

Common Phrases:

as annoying as a housefly, buzzing like a housefly, housefly on the wall

Etymology:

From Old English "hūs" (house) + "flēoge" (fly), referring to its common presence in homes.

Examples:

  • 1. The housefly landed on my sandwich.
  • 2. She swatted the housefly with a newspaper.
  • 3. Houseflies can spread diseases quickly.
  • 4. A single housefly buzzed around the room.

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