# mosquito

/məˈskitoʊ/ (US) · /məskˈiːtəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mosquito
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the insect

noun · CEFR A2

a small flying insect that bites you and drinks your blood, often leaving an itchy red bump.

For teachers: a small flying insect of the family Culicidae, the females of which possess a proboscis for sucking blood from vertebrates.

- I couldn't sleep because a mosquito was buzzing around my ear all night.
- Public health officials warned that the recent heavy rains had created ideal breeding conditions for the mosquito population, increasing the risk of West Nile virus.

### 2. military aircraft

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · British English

a famous British wooden airplane used during World War II.

For teachers: the De Havilland Mosquito, a versatile British multi-role combat aircraft used during the Second World War.

- The museum has a restored Mosquito that visitors can see up close.
- Constructed primarily of spruce and plywood, the Mosquito was one of the fastest operational aircraft in the world at the time of its introduction.

Usage: Usually capitalized as 'Mosquito' when referring to the specific aircraft model.

### 3. to fly low

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

to fly very close to the ground without a clear direction.

For teachers: to fly an aircraft at a very low altitude, often following an erratic or non-linear course.

- The small plane started to mosquito across the fields just above the trees.
- The pilot was forced to mosquito along the valley floor to remain beneath the enemy's radar coverage during the reconnaissance mission.

## Examples

- A mosquito bit me on the arm last night.
- We decided to sit inside because there were too many mosquitoes near the lake at sunset.
- While most species are merely a nuisance, certain mosquitoes act as primary vectors for serious diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, and the Zika virus in tropical regions.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.