Finesentence mobile logo
Sign in Login / Register

Nit: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿœ
Add to dictionary

nit

 

[ nษชt ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

insect egg

A nit is the egg of a louse, often found attached to hair or in clothing. The term is commonly associated with head lice, which lay their eggs close to the scalp. Nits are typically oval and white or yellow in color, making them easy to spot when examining the hair. They hatch into nymphs, which are immature lice, in about 7 to 10 days.

Synonyms

egg, louse egg

Examples of usage

  • She found several nits in her daughter's hair.
  • The nits indicated that the family might need to treat for lice.
  • He carefully removed the nits with a fine-toothed comb.
Context #2 | Verb

to infest

To nit means to search for and remove nits, or, more generally, to infest with lice. This action is usually performed during a lice treatment or prevention routine. Nitting involves combing through hair to find and extract the tiny eggs before they hatch.

Synonyms

to comb, to inspect

Examples of usage

  • She spent the afternoon nitting her children's hair.
  • After the infestation, it was important to nit thoroughly.
  • He learned how to nit effectively to eliminate lice.

Translations

Translations of the word "nit" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น pulga

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคœเฅ‚เค

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Flรถhe

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ kutu

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฑะปะพั…ะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ pchล‚a

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒŽใƒŸ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท puce

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ pulga

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท pire

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ฒผ๋ฃฉ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุจุฑุบูˆุซ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ blecha

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ blecha

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่ทณ่šค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ bolha

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ flรณ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฑะปะพั…ะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ‘แƒฃแƒ–แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ tรผlkรผ

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ pulga

Etymology

The word 'nit' originates from the Old English term 'nytte', which used to describe a small egg, particularly that of a louse or similar insect. The etymology is closely related to similar terms in several Germanic languages, suggesting a long history of use associated with parasitic insects. Over time, the meaning of 'nit' has specifically become linked to lice eggs, reflecting the continued relevance of controlling lice infestations, particularly in children. The term has also gained colloquial usage in phrases aimed at highlighting trouble or nuisance, solidifying its place in the English language as both a scientific and everyday term.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,338, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.