n.
Pronunciation: ' pest
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French peste, from Latin pestis
Date: 1513
1 : an epidemic disease associated with high mortality specifically : PLAGUE
2 : something resembling a pest in destructiveness especially : a plant or animal detrimental to humans or human concerns (as agriculture or livestock production)
3 : one that pesters or annoys : NUISANCE
– pesty \ ' pes-t ē \ adjective