midge

IPA/mɪdʒ/
KK[mˈɪdʒ]IPA/mɪdʒ/

midge — noun

  • midgesingular
  • midgesplural

1. A very small flying insect that gathers in large groups near water, and whose bi

1.名詞B2
釋義

A very small flying insect that gathers in large groups near water, and whose bite leaves an itchy red mark on the skin.

例句

While camping in the Highlands, Fatima found her ankles covered in midge bites.

midge bites: painful outdoor encounter

A cloud of midges rose from the damp grass and chased the hikers down the trail.

cloud of midges: collective noun pattern

同義詞
  • gnat

    a loose everyday term for any small fly, biting or not; broader than midge

  • no-see-um

    informal American name for biting midges, emphasising how tiny they are

  • punkie

    regional North American term, less widely recognised

文法句型

a midge

midges

clouds of midges

swarms of midges

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 2 (DANCING SWARM). Biting midges leave itchy welts on skin; the non-biting midges in sense 2 are harmless to people.

常見錯誤

❌I was bitten by a mosquito at the lake.' (when it was actually a midge).
✅I was bitten by a midge at the lake.
💡midges are much smaller than mosquitoes and their bites feel like a sharp pinch rather than a slow needle-sting.

2. A tiny harmless fly that does not bite, often seen rising and falling in tall wi

2.名詞B2
釋義

A tiny harmless fly that does not bite, often seen rising and falling in tall wispy columns above ponds and rivers at sunset.

例句

At dusk, a tall column of midges hovered and swayed above the riverbank.

column of midges: swarm pattern for non-biting midges

Thabo pointed at what looked like smoke rising from the lake — it was thousands of dancing midges.

同義詞
  • lake fly

    common name for non-biting midges that gather near lakes

  • chironomid

    the scientific family name, used mainly in biology texts

文法句型

midges

a column of midges

a swarm of midges

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (BITING FLY). These midges lack biting mouthparts and are completely harmless to humans; they are mainly noticed when they form dancing swarms near water.