acaricide
Intermediate (B1)
IPA: /ˈækəraɪsaɪd/
KK: /ˈækəraɪsaɪd/
adjective
Definition
A substance that is harmful or lethal to small arachnids, such as mites and ticks.
Example
The acaricide treatment effectively reduced the mite population in the garden.
Conversation
Have you heard about the new acaricide product they released for gardens?
No, I haven't! Does it really work against pests?
Yeah, it’s supposed to be really effective and not harmful to other plants.
That sounds great! I might give it a try to protect my flowers.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
pesticidal
toxic
harmful
Antonyms
beneficial
harmless
nurturing
noun
Definition
A chemical used to kill small creatures like mites and ticks that can harm plants or animals.
Example
Farmers often use acaricides to protect their crops from mite infestations.
Conversation
I found this new product that claims to be an effective acaricide for my garden.
Oh really? I've been struggling with mites on my plants.
Yeah, I heard it works really well against those pests.
Root Explanation
Acaricide → It is formed from "acari" (from Latin *acarus*, meaning mite) and "-cide" (from Latin *caedere*, meaning to kill). The word refers to a substance that kills mites.
Memory Tip
Think of 'acari' which means mites, and '-cide' which means to kill — so an acaricide is something that kills mites.
Visually Confused Words
ascaricide
bactericide
ascaricidal