tube worm

noun

: a worm that lives in a tube (as one composed of sand grains or calcium carbonate) : such as
a
: any of various polychaetes or oligochaetes

Examples of tube worm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Such tube worm colonies have been documented in the Gulf of Mexico on the steel luxury yacht Anona. Avery Paxton, Discover Magazine, 26 Dec. 2023 There were tube worms, not the spectacular six-foot Riftia found at the first vents discovered, off the Galápagos--for some reason the organisms at the Juan de Fuca tend to be smaller--but a more modest relative, genus Ridgeia. Robert Kunzig, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 But Lutz was looking for rich beds of mollusks and forests of tube worms. Robert Kunzig, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 Even in these cold, dark zones, the vents were home to all kinds of living organisms, including giant tube worms, clams, crabs and other species. Suzanne Oconnell, The Conversation, 5 June 2023 These nutrients are used by bacteria that live deep inside the tube worm's trophosome to synthesize a variety of organic compounds. Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010 Riftia pachyptila, more commonly known as the giant tube worm. Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010 The team hopes to replicate the tube worm’s unique photoprotein—or a protein linked to bioluminescence—to illuminate cancer cells during surgery. Rachael Lallensack, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2020 But not the marine parchment tube worm—these ocean swimmers produce a bright blue goo that stays aglow for anywhere from 16 to 72 hours. Rachael Lallensack, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tube worm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1819, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tube worm was circa 1819

Dictionary Entries Near tube worm

Cite this Entry

“Tube worm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tube%20worm. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tube worm

noun
: a worm that lives in a tube (as one made of sand grains or calcium carbonate): as
a
: any of various land- or water-dwelling worms that are closely related to the earthworms
b
: any of a group of worms that may grow to be 9 feet (3 meters) long, are related to the earthworms, and live on the ocean floor near openings that give off very hot mineral-rich water

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