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tape·worm | \ ˈtāp-ˌwərm 
\
\Definition of tapeworm
: any of a class (Cestoda) of bilaterally symmetrical flatworms that are parasitic as adults in the intestines of vertebrates including humans and consist of a scolex usually with suckers or hooks followed posteriorly by an undifferentiated neck region from which buds off an often long chain of proglottids In most instances, adult tapeworms have little visible effect on their hosts except in heavy infections, which may result in anemia, weight loss, and various secondary manifestations.— Burton J. Bogitsh et al.
— called also cestode
Examples of tapeworm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web The best way to kill a tapeworm is by properly cooking fish or freezing it for multiple days before eating it.
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Joe Genzel, Outdoor Life, "10 Common Parasites and Diseases Found in Game Fish (and What You Need to Know About Them)," 27 May 2020 The other drug is niclosamide, used to treat tapeworms and other parasites.
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Kai Kupferschmidt, Science | AAAS, "How the pandemic made this virologist an unlikely cult figure," 28 Apr. 2020 Also, talk to your vet about treating for tapeworms; pets with fleas are at risk.
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Karen Asp, Better Homes & Gardens, "Bug Off: How to Prevent Get Rid of Fleas and Ticks on Your Pet," 7 Apr. 2020 More recently, DeRisi’s lab has been behind a push into clinical metagenomic sequencing, developing tests that have helped solve medical mysteries for patients being treated at nearby hospitals, including the case of a brain-invading tapeworm.
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Megan Molteni, Wired, "A Disease Tracker Backed by Gates and Zuckerberg Tackles Covid-19," 10 Mar. 2020 Fleas can also transmit diseases, as well as tapeworms.
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The Editors, Field & Stream, "Nine Ways to Protect Your Dog from Ticks and Fleas," 3 Mar. 2020 Neurocysticerosis comes from undercooked, infected pork, causing tapeworm eggs to fester in the brain.
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Joshua Bote, USA TODAY, "Doctors found hundreds of tapeworms in a man's brain. Undercooked pork may be to blame," 28 Nov. 2019 Moctezuma underwent emergency surgery to remove the tapeworms.
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Scottie Andrew, CNN, "A man suffered splitting headaches for years. Turns out, tapeworms were living in his brain," 30 Jan. 2020 Catering to those willing to risk tapeworms, several modern cooks have recreated garum recipes.
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Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Ancient Roman Fish Sauce Factory Unearthed in Israel," 19 Dec. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tapeworm.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for tapeworm
tapeworm
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of tapeworm
: a long, flat worm that lives in the intestines of people and animals
See the full definition for tapeworm in the English Language Learners Dictionary
tapeworm
nountape·worm | \ ˈtāp-ˌwərm \
\Kids Definition of tapeworm
: a worm with a long flat body that lives as a parasite in the intestines of people and animals
tapeworm
nountape·worm | \ ˈtāp-ˌwərm \
\Medical Definition of tapeworm
: any of the class Cestoda of flatworms that are parasitic as adults in the digestive tract of vertebrates including humans and as larvae in a great variety of vertebrates and invertebrates, that typically consist of an attachment organ usually with suckers, grooves, hooks, or other devices for adhering to the host's intestine followed by an undifferentiated growth region from which buds off a chain of segments of which the anterior members are little more than blocks of tissue, the median members have fully developed organs of both sexes, and the posterior members are degenerated to egg-filled sacs, that have no digestive system and absorb food through the body wall, and that have a nervous system consisting of ganglia and commissures in the scolex and longitudinal cords extending the length of the strobila
— called also cestode
— see beef tapeworm, cat tapeworm, dog tapeworm, fish tapeworm, fringed tapeworm, pork tapewormKeep scrolling for more
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The first known use of tapeworm was in 1706
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