fleaflea /fliː/ noun [countable] 
Are you sure the dog has fleas?2send somebody off with a flea in their ear British English to talk angrily to someone, especially because they have done something you disapprove of
WORD ORIGINflea
Origin:
Old EnglishEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- A water flea that is starving in a crowded pond is the victim not of food shortage but of competition.
- But there are safe ways to ward off fleas.
- Look for tiny specks of black dirt - these are the flea droppings.
- Pets with heavy coats may have their hair clipped to increase comfort and control fleas.
WORD SETS
abdomen, nounant, nounantenna, nounanthill, nounaphid, nounbedbug, nounbee, nounbeetle, nounblack widow, nounbloodsucker, nounblow-fly, nounbluebottle, nounboll weevil, nounbookworm, nounbug, nounbumblebee, nounbutterfly, nouncaterpillar, nouncell, nouncentipede, nounchrysalis, nouncicada, nouncobweb, nouncockchafer, nouncockroach, nouncocoon, nouncomb, nouncrane fly, nouncreepy-crawly, nouncricket, noundaddy longlegs, noundragonfly, noundrone, nounearwig, nounentomology, nounfeeler, nounfirefly, nounflea, nounfly, verbfly, nounfruit fly, noungadfly, nounglow-worm, noungnat, noungossamer, noungrasshopper, noungreenfly, noungrub, nounhoneybee, nounhoneycomb, nounhornet, nounhorsefly, nounhousefly, nouninsect, nouninsectivore, nounkatydid, nounladybird, nounlarva, nounlice, nounlightning bug, nounlocust, nounlouse, nounmaggot, nounmantis, nounmayfly, nounmidge, nounmillipede, nounmite, nounmosquito, nounmoth, nounnectar, nounnest, nounnit, nounnymph, nounpest, nounpod, nounpraying mantis, nounproboscis, nounpupa, nounqueen, nounroach, nounsand fly, nounscarab, nounsilkworm, nounsilverfish, nounspider, nounspin, verbstick insect, nounsting, verbsting, nounstinger, nounsucker, nounswarm, nounswarm, verbtarantula, nountermite, nounthorax, nountick, nountortoiseshell, nountrilobite, nountsetse fly, nountzetze fly, nounvein, nounverminous, adjectivewasp, nounwater bug, nounweb, nounweevil, nounwing, nounwinged, adjectivewoodlouse, nounwoodworm, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Are you sure the dog has fleas?COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
1a very small insect without wings that jumps and bites animals and people to eat their blood: Are you sure the dog has fleas?· The first 50 winning postcards will be sent a Sherleys flea collar.· In this group were veterans who had worn flea collars in the Gulf to ward off desert bugs.
· I found an old coat in the flea market and cut the good bits out.· On weekends, he would travel back to Santa Cruz to sell his line at the local flea market.· She scours flea markets and will either repair her purchases or leave them, depending on the extent of the damage.· A man approached him at the automotive flea market, offering $ 5, 000 in cash, no questions asked.· Sorrel was on duty at her stall on the corner of the flea market, so that was my first port of call.· At a flea market, McMichael can spot the familiar royal blue bubble shape sitting in a heap yards away.· The sheets are reported to have turned up inside a frame offered for sale in a provincial Sunday flea market outside Paris.· He sold many of his pieces at area flea markets.
· The same pattern of asexual reproduction occurs in water fleas, aphids and even a few lizards.· On average only five of the water fleas in each generation manage to breed before they are eaten by a fish.· We think it's because that's where it finds the water fleas.· A water flea that is starving in a crowded pond is the victim not of food shortage but of competition.
VERB· She expected to be sent out with a flea in her ear.· The first 50 winning postcards will be sent a Sherleys flea collar.
Are you sure the dog has fleas?2send somebody off with a flea in their ear British English to talk angrily to someone, especially because they have done something you disapprove of