infestation — the presence of an unusually large number of insects or animals in a place, typically so as to cause damage or disease
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the presence of an unusually large number of insects or animals in a place, typically so as to cause damage or disease
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌɪnfesˈteɪʃən/
Example Sentences
- The restaurant was closed due to a rat infestation in the kitchen.
- My neighbor's garden has such a slug infestation that it looks like a slug convention.
- The apartment building's bed bug infestation forced all residents to temporarily relocate.
infestation
NOUN[/ˌɪnfesˈteɪʃən/]
the presence of an unusually large number of insects or animals in a place, typically so as to cause damage or disease
The old barn suffered a severe rat infestation last winter.
A conversation and demonstration reveals the infestation situation
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Latin infestare, meaning 'to attack hostilely' or 'to assail'. Originally used in military contexts to describe hostile attacks, the term gradually evolved to describe the invasion or overrunning of a place by pests, parasites, or animals in large numbers.
Breakdown
in- (in, into) + festare (to attack, to disturb) + -ation (noun-forming suffix indicating a process or condition). The Latin root festare is related to festinus (hasty, rushed), conveying the sense of aggressive intrusion.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The restaurant was closed due to a rat infestation in the kitchen.”
“My neighbor's garden has such a slug infestation that it looks like a slug convention.”
“The apartment building's bed bug infestation forced all residents to temporarily relocate.”
“After the picnic, we discovered an ant infestation in our car that turned it into a mobile ant highway.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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