A gnat is a very small flying insect that bites people and usually lives near water.
gnat in British English
(næt)
noun
any of various small fragile biting dipterous insects of the suborder Nematocera, esp Culex pipiens (common gnat), which abounds near stagnant water
Derived forms
gnatlike (ˈgnatˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
Old English gnætt; related to Middle High German gnaz scurf, German dialect Gnitze gnat
gnat in American English
(næt)
noun
1.
any of various small insects, esp. certain dipterous flies, which often bite
2. British
a mosquito
Idioms:
strain at a gnat
Derived forms
gnatty (ˈgnatty)
adjective
Word origin
ME < OE gnæt, akin to Ger dial. gnatze, LowG gnatte < IE *ghnedh- < base *ghen- > gnaw
More idioms containing
gnat
strain at a gnat
Examples of 'gnat' in a sentence
gnat
Winter gnats are dancing up and down in columns in gardens and over woodland paths.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Crushed leaves can also be rubbed onto the skin to repel gnats and mosquitoes.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Word lists with
gnat
fly
All related terms of 'gnat'
gall gnat
any of various small fragile mosquito-like dipterous flies constituting the widely distributed family Cecidomyidae, many of which have larvae that produce galls on plants
fungus gnat
any of several mosquitolike insects of the family Mycetophilidae, the larvae of which feed on fungi or decaying vegetation
spent gnat
an angler's name for the spinner of various mayflies , esp Ephemeris danica and E. vulgata, particularly when lying spent on the water surface after mating and egg-laying
buffalo gnat
any of various small North American blood-sucking dipterous insects of the genus Simulium and related genera: family Simuliidae
gnat's piss
a very weak-tasting and unappetizing drink
strain at a gnat
to concern yourself with something unimportant , perhaps neglecting something that really is important