Cicadae

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Cicada \Ci*ca"da\ (s[i^]*k[=a]"d[.a]), n.; pl. E. {Cicadas}
     (-d[.a]z), L. {Cicad[ae]} (-d[=e]). [L.] (Zool.)
     Any species of the genus {Cicada} or of the family
     {Cicadidae}. They are large hemipterous insects, with nearly
     transparent wings. The male makes a shrill sound by peculiar
     organs in the under side of the abdomen, consisting of a pair


     of stretched membranes, acted upon by powerful muscles. A
     noted American species ({Cicada septendecim}) is called the
     {seventeen year locust}. Another common species is the
     {dogday cicada}.
  
     Syn: cicala. [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  cicadae
       See {cicada}

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  cicada
       n : stout-bodied insect with large membranous wings; male has
           drum-like organs for producing a high-pitched drone [syn:
            {cicala}]
       [also: {cicadae} (pl)]