[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/pesticide/)

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# pesticide

noun (a pesticide, pesticides; also uncountable)

«pesticide» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A pesticide is a chemical used to kill pests — insects, weeds, fungi or small animals that damage crops or gardens. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pesticide/#m1)
2. Pesticides include insecticides (for insects), herbicides (for weeds) and fungicides (for moulds and fungi). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pesticide/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science and geography lessons about farming, pesticides help farmers grow more food, but they can harm bees, birds and rivers, and can travel up food chains. Pupils compare them with natural methods like ladybirds eating aphids and with organic farming. In everyday life and safety: pesticides are poisonous, must be kept away from children and pets, and fruit should be washed. Phrases: «spray pesticides», «pesticide-free», «harmful pesticides».

### Examples

- The farmer sprayed pesticide on the potatoes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pesticide/#x1)
- Some pesticides can harm bees. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pesticide/#x2)
- Organic farms use fewer chemical pesticides. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pesticide/#x3)
- Wash fruit before you eat it to remove pesticide. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pesticide/#x4)
- Ladybirds are a natural way to control aphids without pesticides. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pesticide/#x5)
- Keep pesticides locked away from children and pets. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pesticide/#x6)
- The pesticide washed into the river and harmed the fish. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pesticide/#x7)

### Note

«-cide» means "killing": pesticide, insecticide, herbicide. Countable for kinds («two pesticides») or uncountable for the stuff («some pesticide»). A pest is something that harms crops or homes; the word sounds like a judgement, but the animal is not "bad", just in the way.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «pesticide» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pesticide/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«pesticide» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pesticide.html) on Mova free.