Worm

[wɜːm] or [wɝm]

Definition

(noun.) any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes; also many insect larvae.

(noun.) screw thread on a gear with the teeth of a worm wheel or rack.

(noun.) a software program capable of reproducing itself that can spread from one computer to the next over a network; 'worms take advantage of automatic file sending and receiving features found on many computers'.

(noun.) a person who has a nasty or unethical character undeserving of respect.

Inputed by Cole--From WordNet

Definition

(n.) A creeping or a crawling animal of any kind or size, as a serpent, caterpillar, snail, or the like.

(n.) Any small creeping animal or reptile, either entirely without feet, or with very short ones, including a great variety of animals; as, an earthworm; the blindworm.

(n.) Any helminth; an entozoon.

(n.) Any annelid.

(n.) An insect larva.

(n.) Same as Vermes.

(n.) An internal tormentor; something that gnaws or afflicts one's mind with remorse.

(n.) A being debased and despised.

(n.) Anything spiral, vermiculated, or resembling a worm

(n.) The thread of a screw.

(n.) A spiral instrument or screw, often like a double corkscrew, used for drawing balls from firearms.

(n.) A certain muscular band in the tongue of some animals, as the dog; the lytta. See Lytta.

(n.) The condensing tube of a still, often curved and wound to economize space. See Illust. of Still.

(n.) A short revolving screw, the threads of which drive, or are driven by, a worm wheel by gearing into its teeth or cogs. See Illust. of Worm gearing, below.

(v. i.) To work slowly, gradually, and secretly.

(v. t.) To effect, remove, drive, draw, or the like, by slow and secret means; -- often followed by out.

(v. t.) To clean by means of a worm; to draw a wad or cartridge from, as a firearm. See Worm, n. 5 (b).

(n.) To cut the worm, or lytta, from under the tongue of, as a dog, for the purpose of checking a disposition to gnaw. The operation was formerly supposed to guard against canine madness.

(n.) To wind rope, yarn, or other material, spirally round, between the strands of, as a cable; to wind with spun yarn, as a small rope.

Typist: Lycurgus

Synonyms and Synonymous

v. n. Work slowly, secretly, and gradually (like a worm).

Edited by Clare

Definition

n. a term destitute of scientific precision but often applied to any one of the members of numerous classes of invertebrate animals which are more or less earthworm-like in appearance the earthworm a grub a maggot: anything spiral: the thread of a screw: the lytta or vermiform cartilage of a dog's tongue: the instrument used to withdraw the charge of a gun: a spiral pipe surrounded by cold water into which steam or vapours pass for condensation in distilling: anything that corrupts gnaws or torments: remorse: a debased being a groveller: (pl.) any intestinal disease arising from the presence of parasitic worms.—v.i. to move like a worm to squirm: to work slowly or secretly.—v.t. to effect by slow and secret means: to elicit by underhand means: to remove the lytta or vermiform cartilage of a dog's tongue.—n. Worm′-cast the earth voided by the earthworm.—adjs. Worm′-eat′en eaten by worms: old: worn-out; Worm′-eat′ing living habitually on worms; Wormed bored by worms: injured by worms.—ns. Worm′-fence a zigzag fence formed of stakes; Worm′-fē′ver a feverish condition in children ascribed to intestinal worms; Worm′-gear a gear-wheel having teeth shaped so as to mesh with a worm or shaft on which a spiral is turned an endless screw; Worm′-gear′ing; Worm′-grass pink-root: a kind of stonecrop; Worm′-hole the hole made by a worm.—adj. Worm′-holed perforated by worm-holes.—ns. Worm′-pow′der a vermifuge; Worm′-seed santonica: the treacle mustard; Worm′-wheel a wheel gearing with an endless screw or worm receiving or imparting motion.—adj. Wor′my like a worm: grovelling: containing a worm: abounding with worms: gloomy dismal like the grave.

Inputed by Hodge