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Webster 1913 Edition
Cicada
Ci-ca′da
(sĭ-kā′dȧ)
, Noun.
pl. E.
Cicadas
(-dȧz)
, L. Cicadæ
(-dē)
. [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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Cicada
CICADA
,Noun.