wormhole

noun

worm·​hole ˈwərm-ˌhōl How to pronounce wormhole (audio)
1
: a hole or passage burrowed by a worm
2
: a hypothetical structure of space-time envisioned as a tunnel connecting points that are separated in space and time

Did you know?

If you associate wormhole with quantum physics and sci-fi, you'll probably be surprised to learn that the word has been around since William Shakespeare's day. To Shakespeare, a "wormhole" was simply a hole made by a worm, but even the Bard subtly linked wormholes to the passage of time; for example, in the poem The Rape of Lucrece, he notes time's destructive power "to fill with worm-holes stately monuments." To modern astrophysicists, a wormhole isn't a tunnel wrought by a slimy invertebrate, but a theoretical tunnel between two black holes or other points in space-time, providing a shortcut between its end points.

Examples of wormhole in a Sentence

We found tiny wormholes in the potatoes.
Recent Examples on the Web Monica sacrifices herself to close it, trapping herself on the other side of the wormhole. EW.com, 10 Nov. 2023 However, wormholes remain theoretical: Scientists have yet to spot one. Adi Foord, University Of Maryland, Discover Magazine, 17 Nov. 2023 Where the hub should be is just a yawning hole ringed by irregular steel ridges, looking for all the world like the portal of a wormhole generator. WIRED, 3 Oct. 2023 One concept involves wormholes, or hypothetical tunnels in space that could create shortcuts for journeys across the universe. Adi Foord, University Of Maryland, Discover Magazine, 17 Nov. 2023 This sets in motion a love story that grows in tenderness and intimacy even as Adam, whooshing between London and Sanderstead on a train that comes to feel like a wormhole, sees his bond with his parents subtly deepen. Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2023 When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan, Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol’s estranged niece, now SABER astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 7 Nov. 2023 The Challenges of Practical Time Travel But there are no infinitely long cylinders in the universe, and wormholes require the presence of exotic matter with negative mass to stabilize themselves, and negative mass doesn't seem to exist. Paul M. Sutter, Discover Magazine, 1 Dec. 2023 So, in so many ways, the social circumstances that brought them down the wormhole persists. Addie Morfoot, Variety, 8 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wormhole.' 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

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wormhole was in 1593

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Cite this Entry

“Wormhole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wormhole. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

wormhole

noun
worm·​hole ˈwərm-ˌhōl How to pronounce wormhole (audio)
1
: a hole or passage made by a worm
2
: a hypothetical object that is thought of as a tunnel connecting points that are widely separated in space and time

More from Merriam-Webster on wormhole

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