Illustration of ladybug
ladybug
noun
la·dy·bug ˈlā-dē-ˌbəg 
: any of numerous small nearly hemispherical often brightly colored often spotted beetles (family Coccinellidae) of temperate and tropical regions that usually feed both as larvae and adults on other insects (such as aphids)
called also lady beetle, ladybird, ladybird beetle
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The tiny ladybug also is meant to bring good luck to their next chapter. 
Michelle Manetti, Good Housekeeping, 24 Aug. 2022 The tattoo is of hearts, a G clef, a peace sign, a ladybug and an apple. Pam Mcloughlin, Hartford Courant, 10 July 2022 Everything went wrong but the chaos ended with peaceful bonding over a ladybug. Amanda Ostuni, EW.com, 19 Jan. 2022 These days, some orchardists pay up to a dollar per Novius ladybug whenever the ugly white fuzz returns. Martin J. Kernan, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Jan. 2022 Aside from Exo-Abs, Cho has also created a robotic hand called Exo-Glove, a glider with wings like a ladybug, and a robot that simulates water skimmers, also called Jesus bugs because of their ability to walk on water. Khari Johnson, Wired, 12 Aug. 2021 The learning tool teaches students to program simple tasks for a ladybug named Kara, such as collecting leaves and getting through the forest safely. Forbes, 14 June 2021 Six prekindergarten students quickly grab their red notebooks and move from one station to another, wide eyed and delighted to see the evolution of a ladybug. Brayden Garcia, Dallas News, 9 June 2021 The maneuver put Hayabusa2 on course toward a 6-mile-wide (10 km) slice of sky over Woomera—the precision equivalent of targeting a ladybug from 0.6 miles (1 km) away, JAXA officials wrote in a post-burn update. Mike Wall, Scientific American, 7 Dec. 2020 See More
Michelle Manetti, Good Housekeeping, 24 Aug. 2022 The tattoo is of hearts, a G clef, a peace sign, a ladybug and an apple. Pam Mcloughlin, Hartford Courant, 10 July 2022 Everything went wrong but the chaos ended with peaceful bonding over a ladybug. Amanda Ostuni, EW.com, 19 Jan. 2022 These days, some orchardists pay up to a dollar per Novius ladybug whenever the ugly white fuzz returns. Martin J. Kernan, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Jan. 2022 Aside from Exo-Abs, Cho has also created a robotic hand called Exo-Glove, a glider with wings like a ladybug, and a robot that simulates water skimmers, also called Jesus bugs because of their ability to walk on water. Khari Johnson, Wired, 12 Aug. 2021 The learning tool teaches students to program simple tasks for a ladybug named Kara, such as collecting leaves and getting through the forest safely. Forbes, 14 June 2021 Six prekindergarten students quickly grab their red notebooks and move from one station to another, wide eyed and delighted to see the evolution of a ladybug. Brayden Garcia, Dallas News, 9 June 2021 The maneuver put Hayabusa2 on course toward a 6-mile-wide (10 km) slice of sky over Woomera—the precision equivalent of targeting a ladybug from 0.6 miles (1 km) away, JAXA officials wrote in a post-burn update. Mike Wall, Scientific American, 7 Dec. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Our Lady, the Virgin Mary
First Known Use
1699, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
ladybug
noun
la·dy·bug ˈlā-dē-ˌbəg
: a small rounded beetle that is often brightly colored and spotted and feeds mostly on other insects (as aphids)