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Members of a family of insects, cicadas have a stout body, wide blunt head, two pairs of transparent wings, prominent compound eyes, and three simple eyes. Most of the 1,500 known species are found in tropical deserts, grasslands, and forests. Males produce loud noises by vibrating membranes near the base of the abdomen. Most North American cicadas produce rhythmical ticks, buzzes, or whines, though the "song" of some species is musical. Periodical cicadas, including the well-known 17-year cicada (often erroneously called the 17-year locust) and 13-year cicada appear in regular cycles. Their larvae burrow into the ground, where they remain for 13 or 17 years, feeding on juices sucked from roots. They then emerge in large numbers to live aboveground as adults for only a few weeks.
Examples of cicada in a Sentence
Jeremy Mikula, NBC news, 24 May 2025
The cicadas also provide abundant high-protein food for many species of birds, small mammals, and some reptiles and amphibians.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025
After mating, female cicadas lay eggs in branches on trees.
—Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025
Overhead, territorial howler monkeys announced our presence, toucans flashed in and out of the canopy, and the electric hum of cicadas filled the air.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Cicada.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cicada. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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