Noseeum

Pronunciation

• GenAm IPA: /noʊˈsi.É™m/, enPR: nōsēʹəm
• RP IPA: /nəʊˈsiː.É™m/, enPR: nōsēʹəm
• Hyphenation: no + see + um

Origin

Shortened no see them.

Full definition of noseeum

Noun

1. (colloquial) a biting midge, a small flying insect that harasses people out of doors, particularly in warm weather after sunset.
• 1983, Bob Cary, The big wilderness canoe manualNoseeums will go right through a tent screen.
• 1999, Stephen King, The Girl Who Loved Tom GordonThe minges and noseeums had found her now, so many of them buzzing around her head that her vision seemed to dance with black specks.

Synonyms

• punkie
• sandfly

Alternative forms

• no-see-em
• no-see-um