A louse is a very small insect that lives on the skin or hair of people or animals and feeds on their blood. The plural form is lice.
People usually talk about lice when they mean tiny parasites that can spread from person to person, especially through close contact. In everyday English, “louse” is also sometimes used as an insult for a bad or unpleasant person, but that use is less common in simple explanations.
Meaning & Usage
In daily life, “louse” most often refers to the insect. For example, parents may say a child has lice if these insects are found in the hair. It is a common word in health and school settings.
Examples
“The doctor said my son has lice.”
“She used a special shampoo to get rid of the lice.”
“Don’t share hats if someone has lice.”
What is the plural of louse?
The plural of louse is lice.
Can louse be used as an insult?
Yes. It can mean a bad or nasty person, but this use is less common than the insect meaning.
Leave a Reply