locust

/ˈloʊkəst/
noun
  1. A type of large grasshopper that flies in large groups and can destroy crops by eating them.
    • Farmers in the region are worried about a locust invasion this summer.
    • A swarm of locusts descended on the farmland and ate all the wheat.
    • The locust is known for its ability to travel long distances in huge numbers.
  2. A person who is greedy or destructive, especially one who takes everything valuable from a place.
    • The corrupt officials were like locusts, stripping the country of its resources.
    • After the gold rush, the town was left ruined by the locusts who had flocked there.
    • He called the developers locusts because they bought up all the cheap land.
  3. A type of tree (also called carob or black locust) or its fruit.
    • Locust wood is very hard and is often used for fence posts.
    • The locust tree in the backyard provides plenty of shade in summer.
    • The pods of the locust tree can be ground into a sweet flour.
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