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Noun: periodical cicada  ,peer-ee'ó-di-kul si'key-du
  1. North American cicada; appears in great numbers at infrequent intervals because the nymphs take 13 to 17 years to mature
    - seventeen-year locust, Magicicada septendecim

Derived forms: periodical cicadas

Type of: cicada, cicala

Part of: genus Magicicada, Magicicada

Encyclopedia: Periodical cicada