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oestrum. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
oestrum, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
oestrum in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
oestrum you have here. The definition of the word
oestrum will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
oestrum, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Latin oestrum, variant of oestrus.
Noun
oestrum (countable and uncountable, plural oestrums)
- (obsolete) A biting insect; a gadfly or botfly.
1802, William Paley, Natural Theology, section XIX:In the œstrum or gadfly, the wimble draws out like the pieces of a spy-glass […] .
- (figurative, now rare) Something that stings or incites one to frenzy or action; an impulse or passion.
- (physiology, zoology, now rare) Estrus.
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