louse
1 of 2noun
ˈlau̇s 
1
plural lice ˈlīs
a
: any of various small wingless usually flattened insects (orders Anoplura and Mallophaga) parasitic on warm-blooded animals
b
: a small usually sluggish arthropod (such as a biting louse) that lives on other animals or on plants and sucks their blood or juices
c
: any of several small arthropods (such as a book louse) that are not parasitic
2
plural louses ˈlau̇-səz : a contemptible person : heel
: a contemptible person : heel what a beast, what a cad, what a louse he had been
Walter Karig
Walter Kariglouse
2 of 2verb
ˈlau̇s ˈlau̇z
ˈlau̇z loused; lousing
transitive verb
: to remove lice from
Synonyms
Noun
- bastard
- beast
- bleeder [British]
- blighter [chiefly British]
- boor
- bounder
- bugger
- buzzard
- cad
- chuff
- churl
- clown
- creep
- cretin
- crud [slang]
- crumb [slang]
- cur
- dirtbag [slang]
- dog
- fink
- heel
- hound
- jerk
- joker
- lout
- pill
- rat
- rat fink
- reptile
- rotter
- schmuck [slang]
- scum
- scumbag [slang]
- scuzzball [slang]
- skunk
- sleaze
- sleazebag [slang]
- sleazeball [slang]
- slime
- slimeball [slang]
- slob
- snake
- so-and-so
- sod [chiefly British]
- stinkard
- stinker
- swine
- toad
- varmint
- vermin
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun a problem with head lice Her ex-husband is a real louse.
Recent Examples on the Web Annie Lane, cleveland, 6 Sep. 2022 Vines not needing such grafting are rare but still exist on sandy soils, through which the louse cannot tunnel. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 24 July 2022 After century phylloxera louse decimated vineyards throughout the world in the 18th century, such grafting solved this international problem. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 24 July 2022 Now, Galassi and American louse workers say, infestation rates are back to pre-lockdown norms, despite school COVID-19 protections. oregonlive, 28 Nov. 2021 An Edmontosaurus is a cozy home for a louse and its prolific, extended family—foot after foot of supple dinosaur flesh just waiting for tiny piercing mouthparts. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Apr. 2022 The winery name and logo evoke the vine louse that destroyed much of Europe’s vineyards in the late 1800s. Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2022 But even a school nurse might be shocked at their real staying power; scientists have previously found louse eggs still stubbornly stuck to ancient hair after 10,000 years. Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2021 This shape hair is physically easier for the louse claw to attach to. Danielle James, Allure, 28 Dec. 2021 Chris Foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2017 See More
Noun
It’s one thing to be a total louse to your girlfriend, but to do that to your daughter is awful! Annie Lane, cleveland, 6 Sep. 2022 Vines not needing such grafting are rare but still exist on sandy soils, through which the louse cannot tunnel. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 24 July 2022 After century phylloxera louse decimated vineyards throughout the world in the 18th century, such grafting solved this international problem. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 24 July 2022 Now, Galassi and American louse workers say, infestation rates are back to pre-lockdown norms, despite school COVID-19 protections. oregonlive, 28 Nov. 2021 An Edmontosaurus is a cozy home for a louse and its prolific, extended family—foot after foot of supple dinosaur flesh just waiting for tiny piercing mouthparts. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Apr. 2022 The winery name and logo evoke the vine louse that destroyed much of Europe’s vineyards in the late 1800s. Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2022 But even a school nurse might be shocked at their real staying power; scientists have previously found louse eggs still stubbornly stuck to ancient hair after 10,000 years. Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2021 This shape hair is physically easier for the louse claw to attach to. Danielle James, Allure, 28 Dec. 2021 Verb
Will Ferrell figure out a way to get along, their fathers (Mel Gibson, John Lithgow) show up for the holidays to louse everything up in this comedy sequel. Chris Foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English lous, from Old English lūs; akin to Old High German lūs louse, Welsh llau lice
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing louse
Kids Definition
louse
noun
ˈlau̇s
plural lice
ˈlīs
1
: a small, wingless, and usually flat insect that lives on the bodies of warm-blooded animals
2
: an insect or related arthropod that resembles a body louse and feeds on plant juices or decaying matter
Medical Definition
louse
noun
ˈlau̇s
plural lice ˈlīs
: any of the small wingless usually flattened insects that are parasitic on warm-blooded animals and constitute the orders Anoplura and Mallophaga
louse
noun
as in bastard
a person whose behavior is offensive to others I can't believe you're willing to spend time with that lying louse Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- bastard
- jerk
- dog
- clown
- skunk
- rat
- snake
- boor
- vermin
- creep
- rotter
- lout
- joker
- idiot
- cur
- brute
- bugger
- toad
- blighter
- beast
- swine
- moron
- buzzard
- stinker
- slob
- reptile
- fool
- bounder
- heel
- cad
- scumbag
- scum
- schmuck
- varmint
- slime
- cretin
- fink
- brat
- hound
- pill
- sod
- dirtbag
- nuisance
- slimeball
- sleazebag
- villain
- churl
- crud
- bleeder
- sleaze
- sleazeball
- scuzzball
- chuff
- crumb
- savage
- wretch
- stinkard
- barbarian
- scab
- scoundrel
- nerd
- rat fink
- vulgarian
- so-and-so
- rascal
- miscreant
- scamp
- pest
- lowlife
- imbecile
- dolt
- loudmouth
- booby
- jackass
- snot
- nit
- blockhead
- caveman
- son of a gun
- ninny
- turkey
- rogue
- goon
- roughneck
- dope
- nut
- doofus
- snob
- dink
- insolent
- schmo
- snip
- dork
- airhead
- dweeb
- Neanderthal
- schmoe
- nitwit
- snoot
- nincompoop
- birdbrain
- half-wit
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- gentleman
- hero
- lady
- heroine
- idol
- saint
- role model
- angel