pest

• Nom qui peut désigner un insecte ou un animal nuisible attaquant les cultures ou le bétail, une personne constamment importune ou, historiquement, une maladie épidémique grave à forte mortalité, comme la peste bubonique.

A noun that can refer to a destructive insect or animal that attacks crops or livestock, a persistently annoying person, or historically, a serious epidemic disease with a high death rate, such as the bubonic plague.

1. Bubonic plagueB2formalmedical

   A serious, sometimes fatal, infection in rodents caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which can be accidentally transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected flea.

   Peste bubonique

   • The bubonic pest devastated Europe in the Middle Ages.
   • Modern antibiotics can treat the pest if caught early.
   • The outbreak of pest among rats caused widespread panic.

   Synonymesblack deathbubonic plaguepestilenceplague

2. B2formalmedical

   Any widespread epidemic disease that causes a high number of deaths.

   Peste (maladie épidémique)

   • The pest swept through the city, leaving thousands dead.
   • Historical records describe the pest as a terrible scourge.
   • Quarantine measures were introduced to contain the pest.

   Synonymescontagionepidemicpandemicpestilenceplaguescourge

3. Annoying personB1informal

   A person who persistently annoys or bothers others.

   Personne agaçante

   • My little brother is such a pest when I'm trying to study.
   • Stop being a pest and leave me alone!
   • That guy at the party was a real pest, asking too many questions.

   Synonymesannoyancebotherheadacheirritantnuisanceplaguetorment

4. Destructive animal or insectB1formalscientific

   Any unwanted and destructive insect or animal that attacks food, crops, or livestock.

   Animal ou insecte nuisible

   • Farmers use pesticides to protect their crops from pests.
   • Rats and mice are common household pests.
   • The garden was infested with pests that ate all the vegetables.

   Synonymesbugvarmintvermin