louse
louse — noun
1. A small wingless creature that survives by feeding on the blood or skin of its h
A small wingless creature that survives by feeding on the blood or skin of its host, whether human or animal, and typically causes a persistent itchy feeling.
Lan found a louse in her daughter's hair after the school camping trip.
Lice spread quickly among children who share hats, combs, or pillows at school.
collocation: lice spread quickly; share hats, combs
The veterinarian explained that each type of animal has its own species of louse.
Maeve washed all the bedding and vacuumed the sofa to get rid of the lice.
A single female louse can lay dozens of eggs, making an infestation hard to control.
- flea
A different wingless insect that feeds on blood. Fleas jump between hosts; lice crawl and stay attached.
- tick
A larger parasite that buries its head in the skin to feed. Ticks are more dangerous for disease transmission.
- mite
A very tiny relative that is often invisible to the naked eye. Mites cause skin conditions like scabies.
文法句型
plural: lice
用法筆記
The plural form is lice (not louses). This irregular plural is essential to memorise because it is far more common in everyday use than the singular form.
常見錯誤
2. An insulting word for someone who behaves in a dishonest, selfish, or deliberate
An insulting word for someone who behaves in a dishonest, selfish, or deliberately harmful way towards others.
After Joaquín lied about stealing the office money, everyone called him a louse.
That louse told the boss I was late, though he himself arrived last.
pattern: That louse + verb (accusation)
Meera refused to work with a louse who took credit for other people's ideas.
Only a real louse would cheat at a board game with young children.
- jerk
A more common, slightly milder insult for someone rude or unpleasant. Jerk is widely used across all registers.
- scoundrel
A more literary and old-fashioned term for someone morally bad. Sounds more dramatic than louse.
- swine
As strong as louse but less common today. Often used for greed or gluttony rather than dishonesty.
- gentleman
A man who behaves with honour and consideration — the opposite of the mean, dishonest behaviour a louse shows.
文法句型
usually singular
often preceded by 'you' or 'that'
用法筆記
In this sense the plural is louses (not lice). However, the word is almost always used in the singular, directed at one person. It is a strong insult and should be used with caution.
常見錯誤
louse — verb
1. To search through a person's or animal's hair or fur and pick out all the lice,
To search through a person's or animal's hair or fur and pick out all the lice, usually with a special fine-toothed comb.
Christopher spent an hour lousing his daughter's hair after the school warned of an outbreak.
pattern: louse + possessive + hair
The nurse showed parents how to louse a child's head without hurting the scalp.
Obi had to louse his three children after summer camp reported an infestation.
Arjun loused the family cat carefully, but the animal kept squirming and trying to escape.
Pet owners rarely need to louse their animals unless they show clear signs of skin irritation.
文法句型
louse + noun phrase (hair / head / clothing)
用法筆記
This verb is uncommon in everyday conversation. Most English speakers say 'check for lice', 'remove the lice', or 'treat for lice' instead. The verb is used mainly in instructions from schools, clinics, or pet-care guides.