What does stridulate mean?
Stridulate is a verb that means to make a loud, shrill, or hissing sound, typically by rubbing the body parts together, as some insects do. This sound is often produced by insects with stridulatory organs, such as cicadas and crickets. The word is commonly used in biology and entomology to describe this type of sound. Stridulate can be used in a variety of contexts, from describing the sounds made by insects in nature to discussing the mechanisms of stridulation in scientific research. The word has a somewhat technical connotation, but it is still accessible to non-experts. Overall, stridulate is a useful word for anyone interested in biology, entomology, or the natural world.
verbTo make a loud, shrill, or hissing sound, typically by rubbing the body parts together, as some insects do.
- To make a loud, shrill, or hissing sound, typically by rubbing the body parts together, as some insects do.
"The cicada's wings stridulated loudly as it flew overhead."
"The cicada's wings stridulated loudly as it flew overhead."
"The crickets stridulated softly in the evening."
The plural form of stridulate is used to describe the sounds made by multiple insects.
"The crickets stridulated softly in the evening."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of stridulate
The word stridulate comes from the Latin 'stridulare', which means 'to make a hissing or shrill sound'. This Latin word is derived from 'stridulus', meaning 'shrill' or 'hissing'. The word has been used in English since the 17th century to describe the sound made by insects.
Usage notes
Stridulate is often used in biology and entomology to describe the sound made by insects, particularly those with stridulatory organs.