leaf-cutter

noun

leaf-cut·​ter ˈlēf-ˌkə-tər How to pronounce leaf-cutter (audio)
: any of various chiefly tropical American ants (genera Atta and Acromyrmex) that cut and carry off the leaves of plants which they use in culturing fungi for food

called also leaf-cutting ant

Examples of leaf-cutter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Exactly 150 years ago, scientists first discovered that leaf-cutter ants were cultivating gardens of fungi inside their nests, feeding the fungi bits of leaves and in turn eating the tips of the fungal webs. Kate Golembiewski, CNN, 4 Oct. 2024 The San Francisco leaf-cutter bee, also known as Trachusa gummifera, was found as part of a One Tam community science effort to locate the fast-flying pollinator. Krissy Waite, The Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2024 The building, which is slated to open later this year, will house the Solomon Family Insectarium, where live cockroaches, beetles, and leaf-cutter ants will be on display. Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'leaf-cutter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of leaf-cutter was in 1870

Dictionary Entries Near leaf-cutter

Cite this Entry

“Leaf-cutter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leaf-cutter. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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