worm

worm
n. & v.
—n.
1 any of various types of creeping or burrowing invertebrate animals with long slender bodies and no limbs, esp. segmented in rings or parasitic in the intestines or tissues.
2 the long slender larva of an insect, esp. in fruit or wood.
3 (in pl.) intestinal or other internal parasites.
4 a blindworm or slow-worm.
5 a maggot supposed to eat dead bodies in the grave.
6 an insignificant or contemptible person.
7 a the spiral part of a screw. b a short screw working in a worm-gear.
8 the spiral pipe of a still in which the vapour is cooled and condensed.
9 the ligament under a dog's tongue.
—v.
1 intr. & tr. (often refl.) move with a crawling motion (wormed through the bushes; wormed our way through the bushes).
2 intr. & refl. (foll. by into) insinuate oneself into a person's favour, confidence, etc.
3 tr. (foll. by out) obtain (a secret etc.) by cunning persistence (managed to worm the truth out of them).
4 tr. cut the worm of (a dog's tongue).
5 tr. rid (a plant or dog etc.) of worms.
6 tr. Naut. make (a rope etc.) smooth by winding thread between the strands.
Phrases and idioms:
food for worms a dead person. worm-cast a convoluted mass of earth left on the surface by a burrowing earthworm. worm-fishing fishing with worms for bait. worm-gear an arrangement of a toothed wheel worked by a revolving spiral. worm-hole a hole left by the passage of a worm. worm-seed
1 seed used to expel intestinal worms.
2 a plant e.g. santonica bearing this seed. worm's-eye view a view as seen from below or from a humble position. worm-wheel the wheel of a worm-gear. a (or even a) worm will turn the meekest will resist or retaliate if pushed too far.
Derivatives:
wormer n. wormlike adj.
Etymology: OE wyrm f. Gmc

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Synonyms:

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  • 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 — [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 …   English World dictionary

  • 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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