1
- (pl. lice /laɪs/) either of two small wingless parasitic insects that live on the skin of mammals and birds虱：
1.1
sucking louse
an insect with piercing mouthparts, found only on mammals (order Anoplura or Siphunculata)血虱。参见BODY LOUSE, HEAD LOUSE.
1.2
biting louse
an insect with a large head and jaws, found chiefly on birds (order Mallophaga)羽虱。
1.3
- used in names of small invertebrates that parasitize aquatic animals or infest plants, e.g. fish louse用于寄生于水生动物或大量生存于植物上的小型无脊椎动物的名称中, 如fish louse。
2
- (pl. louses) informal a contemptible or unpleasant person〈非正式〉可鄙的家伙; 讨厌的家伙。
with obj.
1
louse something up
informal spoil or ruin something〈非正式〉糟蹋; 毁坏：he loused up my promotion chances.
他破坏了我晋升的机会。
2
- archaic remove lice from〈古〉清除…上的虱子。
词源
Old English lūs, (plural) lȳs, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch luis, German Laus.