sandfly

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A small biting fly, common in warm sandy or tropical areas, that feeds on blood and can spread disease.

   Grammar: Countable: one sandfly, two sandflies; the plural changes -y to -ies.

   Patterns

   • a bite from a sandfly
   • sandflies spread disease
   • be bitten by a sandfly

   We covered our arms because sandflies were biting at dusk.

   Sandflies in that region can carry a parasite that causes serious illness.

   A single sandfly bite left an itchy red spot on her ankle.

2. 2nouncountabletechnical

   Any of various small two-winged flies that resemble mosquitoes and are active near water or damp ground.

   Grammar: Countable and usually plural when talking about the insects as a group: the sandflies were everywhere.

   Patterns

   • a swarm of sandflies
   • sandflies near the river

   Biologists sampled the sandflies living along the riverbank.

   The larvae of some sandflies develop in moist soil.

Word forms

Common combinations

sandfly bite

The sandfly bite swelled up within an hour.

sandfly fever

Soldiers in the tropics were treated for sandfly fever.

a swarm of sandflies

A swarm of sandflies rose from the wet grass.

be bitten by a sandfly

He was bitten by a sandfly while sleeping outdoors.

Synonyms and how they differ

mosquito

A mosquito is a different biting fly; sandfly is the better word for the smaller, hairy insects that transmit leishmaniasis.

midge

A midge is a tiny biting fly too, but midges usually swarm in cooler climates and rarely spread serious disease.

gnat

Gnat is a loose everyday name for any small fly; use sandfly when you mean the specific disease-carrying insect.

Word family

sandfly fever noun

A viral illness spread by sandflies, with fever and headache.

Commonly confused: sandfly or sand flea?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “sandfly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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