GALLFLY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does gallfly mean? 

• GALLFLY (noun)
  The noun GALLFLY has 3 senses:

1. small solitary wasp that produces galls on oaks and other plants

2. fragile mosquito-like flies that produce galls on plants

3. any of various insects that deposit their eggs in plants causing galls in which the larvae feed

  Familiarity information: GALLFLY used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GALLFLY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Small solitary wasp that produces galls on oaks and other plants

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

cynipid gall wasp; cynipid wasp; gall wasp; gallfly

Hypernyms ("gallfly" is a kind of...):

wasp (social or solitary hymenopterans typically having a slender body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk and having a formidable sting)

Holonyms ("gallfly" is a member of...):

Cynipidae; family Cynipidae (a family of Hymenoptera)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Fragile mosquito-like flies that produce galls on plants

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

gall gnat; gall midge; gallfly

Hypernyms ("gallfly" is a kind of...):

dipteran; dipteron; dipterous insect; two-winged insects (insects having usually a single pair of functional wings (anterior pair) with the posterior pair reduced to small knobbed structures and mouth parts adapted for sucking or lapping or piercing)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "gallfly"):

Hessian fly; Mayetiola destructor (small fly whose larvae damage wheat and other grains)

Holonyms ("gallfly" is a member of...):

Cecidomyidae; family Cecidomyidae (gall midges)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Any of various insects that deposit their eggs in plants causing galls in which the larvae feed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("gallfly" is a kind of...):

insect (small air-breathing arthropod)