pests
/pɛsts/ · pests
noun
- A plague, pestilence, epidemic. The outbreak of the disease was a major pest that affected the entire city.
- Any destructive insect or caterpillar that attacks crops or livestock; an agricultural pest. The farmer had to use pesticides to control the pests that were damaging his crops.
- An annoying person, a nuisance. He was a pest at the party, always bothering people and making a scene.
Did you know? The word 'pests' has been used in various contexts, including literature and everyday conversation, to describe anything that causes annoyance or harm.