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treehopper
noun
tree·hop·per
ˈtrē-ˌhä-pər
: any of a family (Membracidae) of small leaping homopterous insects that feed on the sap especially of shrubs and trees
Examples of treehopper in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While browsing through a collection of treehopper specimens, Brendan Morris, a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, recently identified a new genus of treehopper, as brash and strange in its appearance as its cousins.
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Brigit Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Mar. 2020
See a small fiddler crab scuttling along a log; a skink's dark and half-closed eye; a tiny green buffalo treehopper clinging, upside-down, to a leaf; a Brazilian verbena flower so small that dozens could fit on a quarter.
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Star Tribune, 29 June 2021
Morris, who studies entomology, named the species after the pop diva in an attempt to highlight treehoppers.
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Danielle Garrand, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2020
According to researchers, treehoppers suck on plant juices, sing to each other by vibrating plant stems, and are a vital food source for other forest creatures.
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Fox News, 13 Mar. 2020
The treehopper insect from Nicaragua, known as Kaikaia gaga, certainly brings to mind the singer's bizarre, colorful costumes.
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Fox News, 13 Mar. 2020
But treehoppers have never gotten their due, according to Brendan Morris, an entomology graduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who studied and named the new insect.
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Scottie Andrew, CNN, 11 Mar. 2020
The specimen has features that appeared different from the other treehoppers collected.
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Danielle Garrand, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2020
As their name suggests, treehoppers are capable of some amazing acrobatics.
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Katherine J. Wu, Smithsonian, 9 Dec. 2019
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Word History
First Known Use
circa 1839, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near treehopper
Cite this Entry
“Treehopper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treehopper. Accessed 7 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
treehopper
noun
tree·hop·per
ˈtrē-ˌhäp-ər
: any of several small leaping insects that are related to the leafhoppers and feed on sap from branches and twigs
More from Merriam-Webster on treehopper
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about treehopper
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