phylloxera

UK: /ˌfɪlɒkˈsɪərə/, /fɪˈlɒksərə/

US: (fil′ək sēr′ə, fi lok′sər ə)

Inflections of 'phylloxera' (n):

phylloxerae

npl

phylloxeras

npl

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

phyl•lox•e•ra  (fil′ək sēr′ə, fi lok′sər ə), n., pl. phyl•lox•e•rae (fil′ək sēr′ē, fi lok′sə rē′), phyl•lox•e•ras. 

1. Insects any of several plant lice of the genus Phylloxera, esp. P. vitifoliae (grape phylloxera,) which attacks the leaves and roots of grapevines.

• Greek phyllo- phyllo- + xērá, feminine of xērós dry; so named in reference to the dessication of leaves caused by some species
• Neo-Latin (1834)
• 1865–70

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

phylloxera / ˌfɪlɒkˈsɪərə fɪˈlɒksərə/ noun ( -rae / -riː/, -ras)

1. any homopterous insect of the genus Phylloxera, such as P. vitifolia (or Viteus vitifolii) (vine phylloxera), typically feeding on plant juices, esp of vines: family Phylloxeridae

Etymology: 19th Century: from New Latin phyllo- + Greek xēros dry