Defn: The line traced by a point which varies its position according to some determinate law; the surface described by a point or line that moves according to a given law. Plane locus, a locus that is a straight line, or a circle. — Solid locus, a locus that is one of the conic sections.
LOCUST
Lo"cust, n. Etym: [L. locusta locust, grasshopper. Cf. Lobster.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of long-winged, migratory, orthopterous insects, of the family Acrididæ, allied to the grasshoppers; esp., (Edipoda, or Pachytylus, migratoria, and Acridium perigrinum, of Southern Europe, Asia, and Africa. In the United States the related species with similar habits are usually called grasshoppers. See Grasshopper.
Note: These insects are at times so numerous in Africa and the south of Asia as to devour every green thing; and when they migrate, they fly in an immense cloud. In the United States the harvest flies are improperly called locusts. See Cicada. Locust beetle (Zoöl.), a longicorn beetle (Cyllene robiniæ), which, in the larval state, bores holes in the wood of the locust tree. Its color is brownish black, barred with yellow. Called also locust borer. — Locust bird (Zoöl.) the rose-colored starling or pastor of India. See Pastor. — Locust hunter (Zoöl.), an African bird; the beefeater.
2. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Bot.)
Defn: The locust tree. See Locust Tree (definition, note, and phrases). Locust bean (Bot.), a commercial name for the sweet pod of the carob tree.
LOCUSTA
Lo*cus"ta, n. Etym: [NL.: cf. locuste.] (Bot.)
Defn: The spikelet or flower cluster of grasses. Gray.
LOCUSTELLA
Lo`cus*tel"la, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. locusta a locust.] (Zoöl.)