stridulate

Definition

To make a high-pitched chirping, grating, hissing, or squeaking sound, as male crickets and grasshoppers do, by rubbing certain body parts together.

Etymology

Back-formation from stridulation. (From earlier term stridulous; from Latin strīdulus (“giving a shrill sound, creaking”), from strīdō (“utter a shrill or harsh sound; creak, shriek, grate, hiss”))

Example Sentences

• "A window was open, and the crickets were stridulating at an ominous speed in the black motionless foliage."
• "The crickets stridulated their everlasting monotonous meaningful note."

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