cicada

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

cicada
    n 1: stout-bodied insect with large membranous wings; male has
         drum-like organs for producing a high-pitched drone [syn:
         {cicada}, {cicala}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Cicada \Ci*ca"da\ (s[i^]*k[=a]"d[.a]), n.; pl. E. {Cicadas}
   (-d[.a]z), L. {Cicad[ae]} (-d[=e]). [L.] (Zool.)
   Any species of the genus {Cicada} or of the family
   {Cicadidae}. They are large hemipterous insects, with nearly
   transparent wings. The male makes a shrill sound by peculiar
   organs in the under side of the abdomen, consisting of a pair
   of stretched membranes, acted upon by powerful muscles. A
   noted American species ({Cicada septendecim}) is called the
   {seventeen year locust}. Another common species is the
   {dogday cicada}.

   Syn: cicala. [1913 Webster]