Mosquito Repellent: Definition, Types, and Usage Tips

Meaning 1：mosquito repellent spray (mosquito repellent)

mosquito repellent 🔊

/məˈskiːtoʊ rɪˈpelənt/

A substance or device that keeps mosquitoes away, usually a spray or lotion you put on your skin.

Person spraying mosquito repellent on arm in garden at dusk

mosquito repellent spray 🔊

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/məˈskiːtoʊ rɪˈpelənt spreɪ/

A product, such as a spray, lotion, or cream, designed to keep mosquitoes away from the skin or clothing to prevent bites.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Spanish 'mosquito' (little fly) + Latin 'repellere' (to drive back).

💡 Mnemonic

'Repellent' = 're-' (back) + 'pel' (push) + '-ent' (agent). Imagine a force field pushing mosquitoes away.

📖 Example

Before we sit outside, let's put on some mosquito repellent to avoid getting bitten. 🔊 Before we sit outside, let's put on some mosquito repellent to avoid getting bitten.

🔗 Collocations

apply mosquito repellent – To put mosquito repellent on the skin or clothing.

spray mosquito repellent – To spray mosquito repellent from a bottle onto the skin.

mosquito repellent lotion – A lotion-based product that repels mosquitoes.

🔄 Synonyms

bug spray (n.) – A spray that repels insects, including mosquitoes.

insect repellent (n.) – A general term for substances that deter insects.

DEET (n.) – A common active ingredient in many mosquito repellents.

🚫 Antonyms

mosquito attractant (n.) – A substance that attracts mosquitoes rather than repelling them.

🌱 Derivatives

repel (v.) – To drive away or deter (insects).

repellent (adj.) – Having the property of repelling insects.

repellency (n.) – The quality or degree of being repellent.

📖 Cultural Story

'Mosquito' originates from Spanish for 'little fly'. 'Repellent' from Latin 'repellere'. Modern repellents like DEET were developed during WWII for tropical protection.