cockroach

IPA/ˈkɒkrəʊtʃ/
KK[kˈɑkrˌotʃ]IPA/ˈkɑːkrəʊtʃ/

cockroach — noun

  • cockroachsingular
  • cockroachesplural

1. a hard, flat insect with long antennae that lives in buildings, especially in wa

1.nounB1
Definition

a hard, flat insect with long antennae that lives in buildings, especially in warm or dirty places, and is considered unpleasant and a pest that is hard to get rid of

Example

A large cockroach ran across the kitchen floor when Maria turned on the light.

collocation: cockroach ran across [surface]

The old apartment building had a serious cockroach problem in the basement.

collocation: cockroach problem

Common collocations
  • cockroach problem
  • cockroach infestation
  • see a cockroach
  • kill a cockroach
  • cockroach spray
Synonyms
  • roach

    informal shortening, very common in everyday speech

Grammar Patterns

a/the cockroach

cockroaches [plural]

Usage Note

The informal shortened form 'roach' is very common in everyday speech: 'I saw a roach in the bathroom.'

Common Mistakes

A beetle ran across the kitchen floor.' (when you mean a flat, fast-moving indoor pest).
A cockroach ran across the kitchen floor.
beetles are rounder and have hard wing cases; they are not usually associated with indoor pest problems the way cockroaches are.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Cockroach' is the standard formal name for the insect. 'Roach' is a common informal shortening — it sounds natural in conversation but would be out of place in scientific writing. 'Pest' is a general term for any unwanted animal (insects, mice, rats) that damages property or spreads disease; it is much broader than 'cockroach'. 'Bug' is the most casual word of all and can refer to any small insect; it is too vague to be a true synonym. Use 'cockroach' in formal writing, and 'roach' in everyday speech among friends.

roach ↗pest ↗bug ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • cockroach problem
  • cockroach infestation
  • cockroach spray
  • cockroach trap

Phrases

  • see a cockroach
  • find a cockroach
  • get rid of cockroaches

Prepositions

  • infested with cockroaches

Etymology

SpanishEnglish

The English word 'cockroach' comes from the Spanish 'cucaracha'. Early English speakers altered the spelling to match 'cock' (a bird) and 'roach' (a fish) — a type of folk etymology. The Spanish word itself may come from 'cuca', meaning 'caterpillar'.