lice Meaning & Definition
What Does Lice Mean?
As a noun, lice means any of various small wingless usually flattened insects (orders Anoplura and Mallophaga) parasitic on warm-blooded animals. It is also used to mean a small usually sluggish arthropod (such as a head louse) that lives on other animals or on plants and sucks their blood or juices.
Lice: Key Facts
| Part of speech | noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈlau̇s/ |
| Synonyms | bastard, beast and bleeder |
| Antonyms | hero, heroine and idol |
Lice Definition (Noun)
- any of various small wingless usually flattened insects (orders Anoplura and Mallophaga) parasitic on warm-blooded animals
- a small usually sluggish arthropod (such as a head louse) that lives on other animals or on plants and sucks their blood or juices
- any of several small arthropods (such as a book louse) that are not parasitic
- a contemptible person : heel
What a beast, what a cad, what a louse he had been!
Synonyms of Lice
Antonyms of Lice
Lice in a Sentence
What a beast, what a cad, what a louse he had been!
I can't believe you're willing to spend time with that lying louse
Word Forms & Grammar
lice
louse
louses
Origin of Lice
Middle English lous, from Old English lūs; akin to Old High German lūs louse, Welsh llau lice
First Known Use
before 12th century
Frequently Asked Questions About Lice
What part of speech is lice?
Lice is a noun.
What is another word for lice?
Close synonyms of lice are bastard, beast and bleeder. See the full list of lice synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of lice?
Words opposite in meaning to lice are hero, heroine, idol and role model.