worm

worm
worm [wʉrm]
n.
[ME < OE wyrm, serpent, dragon, akin to Ger wurm < IE base * wer-, to turn, bend > WARP, L vermis, worm]
1. any of many slender, soft-bodied animals, some segmented, that live by burrowing underground, in water, or as parasites, including the annelids, nemerteans, nematodes, platyhelminths, acanthocephalans, and gordian worms
2. popularly
a) an insect larva, as a caterpillar, grub, or maggot
b) any of several mollusks, as the shipworms
c) any of various wormlike animals, as a rotifer or a blindworm
d) Obs. a snake, or serpent
3. an abject, wretched, or contemptible person
4. something that gnaws or distresses one inwardly, suggesting a parasitic worm [the worm of conscience]
5. something thought of as being wormlike because of its spiral shape, etc.; specif.,
a) the thread of a screw
b) the coil of a still
c) an Archimedean screw or similar apparatus
d) a short, rotating screw that meshes with the teeth of a worm gear or a rack
6. Anat. any organ or part resembling a worm, as the vermiform process
7. Comput. an unauthorized, disruptive program, typically spread through communication lines, that creates copies of itself, thereby depleting a disk's or system's available memory: cf. VIRUS (sense 4)
8. [pl.] Med. any disease or disorder caused by the presence of parasitic worms in the intestines, etc.
9. Zool. LYTTA
vi.
to move, proceed, etc. like a worm, in a winding, creeping, or devious manner
vt.
1. to bring about, make, etc. in a winding, creeping, or devious manner [to worm one's way through a tunnel]
2. to insinuate (oneself) into a situation, conversation, etc.
3. to extract (information, secrets, etc.) by insinuation, cajolery, or subtle questioning
4. to purge of intestinal worms
5. Naut. to wind yarn or small rope around (a rope or cable), filling the spaces between the strands
☆ 6. to rid (tobacco plants) of worms or grubs
——————
☆ can of worms
Informal a complex, usually unpleasant problem
wormer
n.
wormlike
adj.

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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Synonyms:
, , (like a worm), , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Worm — (w[^u]rm), n. [OE. worm, wurm, AS. wyrm; akin to D. worm, OS. & G. wurm, Icel. ormr, Sw. & Dan. orm, Goth. wa[ u]rms, L. vermis, Gr. ? a wood worm. Cf. {Vermicelli}, {Vermilion}, {Vermin}.] [1913 Webster] 1. A creeping or a crawling animal of any …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • WORM — ist die Abkürzung für „write once read many“ oder „write once read multiple“ (engl. „schreibe einmal, lese vielfach“). Sie bezeichnet Vorkehrungen in der Informationstechnik, die das Löschen, Überschreiben und Ändern von Daten ausschließen.[1]… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Worm — bezeichnet den Begriff WORM (Write Once Read Multiple times = einmal beschreiben, mehrmals lesen ) aus der Speichertechnologie den Teil des Namens eines Computervirus, welchen ihn als Computerwurm deklariert Worm ist der Familienname folgender… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • WORM — (сокращение от англ. Write Once, Read Manу, также встречаются расшифровки: Write One, Read Multiple, Write Once, Read Mostly) носители информации, допускающие однократную запись и многократное чтение. К характерным представителям WORM… …   Википедия

  • Worm — Worm, v. t. 1. To effect, remove, drive, draw, or the like, by slow and secret means; often followed by out. [1913 Webster] They find themselves wormed out of all power. Swift. [1913 Webster] They . . . wormed things out of me that I had no… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • worm — ► NOUN 1) an earthworm or other creeping or burrowing invertebrate animal having a long slender soft body and no limbs. 2) (worms) intestinal or other internal parasites. 3) a maggot regarded as eating dead bodies buried in the ground. 4)… …   English terms dictionary

  • worm|y — «WUR mee», adjective, worm|i|er, worm|i|est. 1. having worms; containing many worms: »wormy apples. efn>damaged by worms; worm eaten: »wormy wood. 2 …   Useful english dictionary

  • Worm — Worm, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Wormed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Worming}.] To work slowly, gradually, and secretly. [1913 Webster] When debates and fretting jealousy Did worm and work within you more and more, Your color faded. Herbert. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • WORM-FM — 101.7FM 101theWorm is a country radio station based in Savannah, Tennessee. WORM FM serves Savannah and the surrounding area with an ERP of 3000 watts at 101.7FM. WORM FM is owned by Gerald W. Hunt …   Wikipedia

  • WORM — 〈[wɔ:m] f. 10; EDV; Abk. für engl.〉 Write Once Read Many Times; optische Speicherplatte mit hohem Speichervolumen [engl., „schreib einmal, lies mehrfach“] * * * WORM,   Write once read Multiple …   Universal-Lexikon

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