weevil

noun

wee·​vil ˈwē-vəl How to pronounce weevil (audio)
: any of a superfamily (Curculionoidea) of beetles which have the head prolonged into a more or less distinct snout and which include many that are destructive especially as larvae to nuts, fruit, and grain or to living plants
especially : any of a family (Curculionidae) having a well-developed snout curved downward with the jaws at the tip and clubbed usually elbowed antennae
weevily adjective
or weevilly
ˈwēv-lē,
ˈwē-və-lē How to pronounce weevil (audio)

Illustration of weevil

Illustration of weevil

Examples of weevil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The weevil’s young (grubs) eat the roots, turning them into a stinky, liquid pool. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024 That’s the result of deadly, invasive South American palm weevils. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 2024 Each year, as much as 20 percent of the world's grain stores are contaminated by red flour beetles, grain weevils, Colorado potato beetles, and confused flour beetles, particularly in developing countries. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 27 Dec. 2023 Floppy fronds on Canary Island palms are a sure sign of the deadly, invasive South American palm weevil. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2023 Ornamental plants Collapsing agaves is usually caused by the agave snout weevil. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2023 The female weevil chews her way into the base of the plant to lay her eggs in spring. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2023 Biological control, also called biocontrol, has had many stunning victories, from ladybugs that saved the California citrus industry in the late 1800s to weevils that helped save the Florida Everglades from an onslaught of invasive trees a century later. Nala Rogers, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023 Agave snout weevil is another large black weevil, but this one attacks Agave, Agave relatives, golden barrel cactuses, and even some Opuntia. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Oct. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'weevil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wevel, from Old English wifel; akin to Old High German wibil beetle, Old English wefan to weave

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of weevil was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near weevil

Cite this Entry

“Weevil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weevil. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

weevil

noun
wee·​vil ˈwē-vəl How to pronounce weevil (audio)
: any of a family of mostly small beetles that have the head long and usually curved downward to form a snout bearing the jaws at the tip and that include many that feed on and are very harmful to plants or plant products (as nuts, fruit, and grain) especially as larvae

called also snout beetle

compare boll weevil
weevily adjective
or weevilly

More from Merriam-Webster on weevil

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