VINEGAR FLY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does vinegar fly mean? 

• VINEGAR FLY (noun)
  The noun VINEGAR FLY has 1 sense:

1. flies whose larvae feed on pickles and imperfectly sealed preserves

  Familiarity information: VINEGAR FLY used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VINEGAR FLY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Flies whose larvae feed on pickles and imperfectly sealed preserves

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("vinegar fly" is a kind of...):

fruit fly; pomace fly (any of numerous small insects whose larvae feed on fruits)

Holonyms ("vinegar fly" is a member of...):

genus Drosophila (a genus of Drosophilidae)

 Context examples 

The best known species is D. Melanogaster, often called the fruit fly, but more correctly termed the vinegar fly.

(Drosophila, NCI Thesaurus)