Ci-cā'dā, n.

n.; pl. CĪ-CĀ'DĒ. [Lat. cicada, hence Pr. & It. cigala, Fr. cigale, Sp. cigarra.] (Entom.) An insect of the order Hemiptera, having a long, stout body and wings, the latter usually membranous and transparent. The male has the power of making a shrill, grating sound, produced by the friction of peculiar organs situated on the under side of the abdomen, and consisting of a pair of stretched membranes, acted upon by powerful muscles;—called also locust. W. Baird.