How do you pronounce termite?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˈtɜː(ɹ).maɪt/.

termite

/ˈtɜː(ɹ).maɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.78 in modern English

Syllables: ter-mite
IPA: /ˈtɜː(ɹ).maɪt/

Scrabble Score

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Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A white-bodied, wood-consuming insect of the infraorder Isoptera, in the order Blattodea.

noun

A contemptible person.

verb

Of a chimpanzee: to catch termites by inserting a stick or vine into their nest and waiting for them to climb up it.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"Linnæus describes this insect under the Latin name of Termes; and citizen Cuvier speaks of it under that of Termites. The vulgar call it by that of white ant, or fourmi vaguevague. The termites divide themselves into societies: each society builds itself a next, and each nest belongs to an innumerable quantity of these insects, who acknowledge for their chiefs a king and a queen."
"This two faced termite has the nerve to talk."

Etymology

Etymology tree Latin termes Latin termitēsbor. English termitesbf. English termite Inferred singular of termites, the plural form borrowed from Latin termites, the plural of Latin termes (“woodworm”), which was used for termites by Linnaeus.

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /ˈtɜː(ɹ).maɪt/

Usage

Intransitive verb

Inflected Forms

termites (plural) termites (present, singular) termiting (participle, present) termited (participle, past) termited (past)

Derived Forms

antitermite supertermite termital termitary termitic termiticidal termitophagy termitophile turmite termitarium termiticide

Phrases

compass termite dampwood termite Formosan termite magnetic termite termite bug termite of the sea cathedral termite drywood termite

Synonyms

termes white ant wood ant

Rhymes With

thermite