Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
A biting fly of the genus Oestrus; a botfly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A bite or sting.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A passion or frenzy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A female animal's readiness to mate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: biology, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: heat, rut
noun
type genus of the Oestridae: sheep botflies
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: genus Oestrus
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: arthropod genus
noun
applies to nonhuman mammals: a state or period of heightened sexual arousal and activity
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: estrus, heat, rut
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: physical condition, physiological state, physiological condition
History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1eysh2-der. Ancient Greek οἶστρος (oîstros)der. Latin oestrusbor. English oestrus Borrowed from Latin oestrus (“gadfly, sting, frenzy”), from Ancient Greek οἶστρος (oîstros), from Proto-Indo-European *h1eys-, used to form words denoting passion; see also Latin īra (“anger”), Lithuanian aistra (“violent passion”), Avestan 𐬀𐬈𐬯𐬨𐬀 (aesma, “anger”).
Across languages
29 source translations are retained for this English entry.
