pest
gb/pˈɛst/ us/pˈɛst/
B1
Inglés
~ 8400
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Sustantivo
B1
entity
1
harmful insect or small animal
An insect or small animal that causes damage to plants, food, homes, or health.
Patrón de uso:
[someone] has a problem with [pests]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use "pest" for any insect, even when it is not harmful. In English, an insect or animal is called a "pest" only when it causes damage or trouble (for example, mosquitoes, cockroaches, rats). Learners may also confuse the noun "pest" with the verb "pester"; "pest" is the thing that causes trouble, while "pester" is the action of bothering someone.
Sinónimos
vermin (Often refers to dirty or disease-carrying animals like rats; slightly more negative or vivid than "pest".)
|
nuisance (Broader and more general; can be anything annoying, not only insects or animals.)
|
bug (Informal and usually limited to insects or small crawling creatures, especially in homes and gardens.)
Antónimos
beneficial insect (Refers to insects that help crops or the environment, the opposite role of a pest in agriculture or gardens.)
Colocaciones
pest control
|pest problem
|common household pests
|crop pests
|pest infestation
|get rid of pests
Temas
nature
|home
|science
|food
|animals
|health
Ejemplos
- The farmer sprayed the field to protect his crops from pests.
- We called an exterminator because the kitchen was full of tiny pests.
- Climate change is allowing new pests to survive the winter and damage trees.
- The report warns that invasive pests are destroying native plants in the region.
- Proper food storage is essential to prevent pests in restaurants.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- We have pests in our kitchen, so we must clean it well.
- Many farmers lose money because pests eat their crops.
- The city pays a company to control rats and other pests.
- This spray helps keep garden pests away from the roses.
Sustantivo
informal
B2
entity
2
annoying or bothersome person
A person who is very annoying and does not stop bothering other people.
Patrón de uso:
[someone] is such a pest
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes think "pest" is very rude or insulting in all cases. In reality, it is often used jokingly or softly, especially about children or friends. Also, learners may say "He is pest" without the article. In this sense, you should say "He is a pest."
Sinónimos
nuisance (Slightly more formal and polite; can sound less emotional than calling someone a "pest".)
|
annoyance (Focuses more on the feeling caused, not the person; often used in more formal or neutral situations.)
|
pain (Informal and often used in expressions like "a pain" or "a pain in the neck" to describe an annoying person.)
Antónimos
delight (Describes someone who is very pleasant to be around, the emotional opposite of an annoying "pest".)
Colocaciones
such a pest
|little pest
|stop being a pest
|what a pest
|acting like a pest
Temas
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- Stop calling me at work just to chat; you're being a real pest.
- Her little brother can be a pest, but she still loves him.
- I don't want to be a pest, but could you check that email today?
- He kept tapping my shoulder during the movie like a total pest.
- Neighbors complained that the salesman was a pest, knocking on doors late at night.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- My little cousin is a pest when I try to study.
- I don't want to be a pest, so I only ask once.
- She can be a pest, but she is very kind too.
- Please stop texting me every minute; you are such a pest.
Sustantivo
literary
C1
entity
3
old term for plague disease
An old word used in literature or history for a very dangerous disease that kills many people, especially the plague.
Patrón de uso:
the pest spreads through [a place]
Error frecuente:
Learners may think this sense of "pest" is still common in modern speech. Today, people almost always say "plague" or use the specific disease name; this sense of "pest" is mainly found in old texts or in some translations from other languages.
Sinónimos
plague (The modern and much more common word; used for the specific disease and more generally for serious epidemics.)
|
epidemic (General term for a widespread disease; "pest" in this sense is usually more dramatic and old-fashioned.)
Antónimos
health (Represents the absence of disease, the opposite condition of widespread deadly illness.)
Colocaciones
the black pest
|ravages of the pest
|stricken by the pest
Temas
health
|history
|religion
Ejemplos
- The village was emptied when the pest swept through in the winter of 1629.
- In the old chronicles, the pest is described as a punishment from heaven.
- Doctors were powerless against the pest that ravaged the crowded city.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- In this old story, many people die from a pest.
- The writer uses the word "pest" for a great sickness in the city.
- Long ago, some people thought the pest was a sign of God's anger.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
pest
AFI
GB/pˈɛst/
US/pˈɛst/
Sílabas y acento
pest (1 sílaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (pest)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
- Base: pest
- Plural: pests
Familia de palabras
Forms
pests
noun
Core family
pester
verb
pesticide
noun B1
Advanced or less common
pestilence
noun C2
pestilential
adjective
Expresiones
garden pest
1/ɡˈɑɹdən pˈɛst/
fixed phrase
pest that harms garden plants
An insect or small animal that eats or damages flowers, vegetables, or other plants in a garden.
Ejemplos
- Slugs are a serious garden pest in this rainy region.
- The book includes pictures to help you identify common garden pests.
household pest
1/hˈaʊshˌoʊld pˈɛst/
fixed phrase
pest commonly found in homes
An insect or small animal, like ants, cockroaches, or mice, that often lives in people’s houses and causes problems.
Ejemplos
- Cockroaches are one of the most common household pests worldwide.
- The leaflet explains how to prevent household pests without using strong chemicals.
pest control
1/pˈɛst kəntɹˈoʊl/
fixed phrase
professional or organized removal of pests
Work done to stop or remove insects or animals that cause damage or problems, especially in homes, farms, or cities.
Ejemplos
- We need to call a pest control company to deal with the cockroaches.
- The city increased its pest control efforts after a rise in rat sightings.
pest management
1/pˈɛst mˈænɪd͡ʒmənt/
fixed phrase
technical
planned control of pest populations
Careful planning and methods used, especially by farmers and scientists, to reduce damage from pests.
Ejemplos
- The workshop focused on sustainable pest management for small farms.
- Integrated pest management encourages using fewer chemical pesticides.