C2nounnature
US/ˈvɜːr.mɪn/
UK/ˈvɜː.mɪn/
small animals or insects, such as rats or cockroaches, that damage food or spread disease
In context
Uncollected garbage in the alleys attracts rats and other vermin.
Farmers once treated owls as vermin, but now they value them for eating mice.
Seal the rice in metal boxes to keep vermin out.
Words that go with vermin
noun + noun
- rats and other verminThe old warehouse was full of rats and other vermin.
- vermin controlThe hotel pays a company for vermin control every month.
adjective + preposition
- free of verminInspectors check that restaurant kitchens are free of vermin.
- infested with verminThe kitchen was infested with vermin and had to close.
verb + preposition
- regarded as verminFoxes were once regarded as vermin and hunted.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
We found a vermin in the kitchen.Correct: We found vermin in the kitchen. / We found a rat in the kitchen.