\ ˈwərm
\
\
Definition of worm
(Entry 1 of 2)
b
: any of numerous relatively small elongated usually naked and soft-bodied animals (such as a grub, pinworm, tapeworm, shipworm, or slowworm)
2a
: a human being who is an object of contempt, loathing, or pity : wretch
b
: something that torments or devours from within
4
: helminthiasis
—usually used in plural
5
: something (such as a mechanical device) spiral or vermiculate in form or appearance: such 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
6
: a usually small self-contained and self-replicating computer program that invades computers on a network and usually performs a destructive action
worm
verb
wormed;
worming;
worms
Definition of worm (Entry 2 of 2)
: to move or proceed sinuously or insidiously
1a
: 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
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Other Words from worm
Noun
wormlike
\ ˈwərm-ˌlīk
\
adjective
\
adjective
Examples of worm in a Sentence
Noun
I often see worms in the garden. We always used worms as bait for fishing.Verb
He slowly wormed through the crowd. He slowly wormed his way through the crowd. You should have the dog vaccinated and wormed.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
My summer days were filled with long bike treks in search of bass, bluegills, catfish and carp and any other specie that would dare feast on my simple hook and line efforts of garden worms or the occasional doughball. — Jim Gronaw, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Jim Gronaw: When kids go fishing, it sure is fun," 24 Aug. 2019 As the saying goes, the early bird gets the worm — or in this case, the chance to play bass with the Killers in front of 23,000 people. — Piet Levy, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "The best and worst of Summerfest 2019 in Milwaukee, from Billie Eilish to Jennifer Lopez," 8 July 2019 Robins can see the movement of your lawn as the worm moves through the soil. — Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, "Hilling potatoes, flowering lettuce, and other reader questions," 4 July 2019 Wild bees, dragonflies and glow-worms (and the birds which feed on them), threatened by intensive agriculture in western Europe, still thrive here. — The Economist, "An ancient beast returns to Transylvania," 24 Aug. 2019 Able to reproduce without mating (bummer), these jumping worms pose a threat to yards as well as forests. — Rex Huppke, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Trump, an avatar for Nazis, now gets to decide who goes to Israel? What the (BLEEP) just happened?," 16 Aug. 2019 Their diets are omnivorous but consist mostly of plant material, pond weed and algae, along with tadpoles, small fish, worms, snails and insects. — Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Water-loving coots are longtime familiar sights," 15 Aug. 2019 The adult insects lay eggs and the worms (larvae) hatch, bore into the tree and cause great damage or even death. — Howard Garrett, Dallas News, "Is that tree damage from woodpeckers or borer insects?," 13 Aug. 2019 The girls disappeared into it to seek materials for their fairy houses — and to collect a menagerie of frogs, worms, and beetles. — Joshua Berman, The Know, "A nearby campground that you’ve probably driven past has hidden depths behind its trees," 26 July 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Rose is an uptight scientist who uses her position to worm her way into the new principal’s sphere. — Sandra Dallas, The Denver Post, "Regional books: “This Boy’s War,” “The Dead Girl in 2A” and more," 18 Aug. 2019 The music is visceral, the high-pitch whir of the lira flutes like a snake worming its way through my earholes and taking hold of my brain stem. — National Geographic, "Music in Morocco: The ultimate sonic journey," 23 July 2019 In a domed chamber — reached after a trek through a passageway that worms its way up the inside of the cliff face — A.B. inscribed initials and the date, as hundreds of others had in many scripts, then added a little heart. — New York Times, "2 Giant Buddhas Survived 1,500 Years. Fragments, Graffiti and a Hologram Remain.," 18 June 2019 Location sharing has steadily wormed its way into our lives. — Boone Ashworth, WIRED, "The Terrible Anxiety of Location Sharing Apps," 28 July 2019 Outside of lamb, turkey, and soy, products like mung beans wormed their way into Bureau taste tests. — Michael Waters, Smithsonian, "The Government Taste Testers Who Reshaped America’s Diet," 9 Aug. 2019 Don’t discount Arcidiacono’s chances to worm his way into some playing time. — K.c. Johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Bulls reach terms with Ryan Arcidiacono on a 3-year, $9 million deal and get a commitment from free-agent big man Luke Kornet," 2 July 2019 After attaching to the female, the male releases his hectocotylus, which worms its way into the female’s mantle cavity. — Taylor Maggiacomo, National Geographic, "To mate, this octopus gives life and limb," 17 June 2019 This sort of bias can worm its way into all sorts of systems, from algorithms designed to calculate parole to those assessing your CV ahead of an upcoming job interview. — James Vincent, The Verge, "AI is worse at identifying household items from lower-income countries," 11 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'worm.' 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 worm
worm
noun
English Language Learners Definition of worm
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a long, thin animal that has a soft body with no legs or bones and that often lives in the ground
: the young form of some insects that looks like a small worm