worm

¹worm

noun, often attributive \ˈwərm\

Definition of WORM

1

a : earthworm; broadly : an annelid worm

b : any of numerous relatively small elongated usually naked and soft-bodied animals (as a grub, pinworm, tapeworm, shipworm, or slowworm)

2

a : a human being who is an object of contempt, loathing, or pity : wretch

b : something that torments or devours from within

3

archaic : snake, serpent

4

: helminthiasis —usually used in plural

5

: something (as a mechanical device) spiral or vermiculate in form or appearance: as

a : the thread of a screw

b : a short revolving screw whose threads gear with the teeth of a worm wheel or a rack

c : archimedes' screw; also : a conveyor working on the principle of such a screw

6

: a usually small self-contained and self-replicating computer program that invades computers on a network and usually performs a destructive action

— worm·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

Examples of WORM

1. I often see worms in the garden.
2. We always used worms as bait for fishing.

Origin of WORM

Middle English, from Old English wyrm serpent, worm; akin to Old High German wurm serpent, worm, Latin vermis worm

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Invertebrates (Except Insects) Terms

anemone, cephalopod, quahog

Rhymes with WORM

berm, firm, germ, herm, perm, sperm, squirm, term, therm

²worm

verb

Definition of WORM

intransitive verb

: to move or proceed sinuously or insidiously

transitive verb

1

a : to proceed or make (one's way) insidiously or deviously <worm their way into positions of power — Bill Franzen>

b : to insinuate or introduce (oneself) by devious or subtle means

c : to cause to move or proceed in or as if in the manner of a worm

2

: to wind rope or yarn spirally round and between the strands of (a cable or rope) before serving

3

: to obtain or extract by artful or insidious questioning or by pleading, asking, or persuading —usually used with out of <finally wormed the truth out of him>

4

: to treat (an animal) with a drug to destroy or expel parasitic worms

Examples of WORM

1. He slowly wormed through the crowd.
2. He slowly wormed his way through the crowd.
3. You should have the dog vaccinated and wormed.

First Known Use of WORM

1610

Related to WORM

Synonyms

creep, inch, encroach

Related Words

snake, sneak; entrench (also intrench), impinge, infringe, intrude, invade; overpass, overreach, overrun, overshoot, overstep

worm

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any of thousands of species of unrelated invertebrate animals that typically have a soft, slender, elongated body with no appendages. The major phyla are Platyhelminthes (flatworms), Annelida (annelids, or segmented worms), Nemertea (ribbon worms), Acanthocephala (spiny-headed worms), and Aschelminthes (nematodes and others). There are several minor phyla. Length ranges from microscopic (e.g., some aschelminths) to more than 100 ft (30 m) (some ribbon worms). Worms are found worldwide on land and in water. They may be parasitic or free-living and are important as soil conditioners, parasites, and a link in the food chain in all ecosystems. See also fluke, pinworm, polychaete, rotifer, tapeworm, tube worm.