/ wɜːm; NAmE wɜːrm/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a long thin creature with no bones or legs, that lives in soil :
birds looking for worms
—see also earthworm , lugworm
2.
worms [ pl. ] long thin creatures that live inside the bodies of humans or animals and can cause illness :
The dog has worms.
—see also hookworm , tapeworm
3.
[ C ] the young form of an insect when it looks like a short worm :
This apple is full of worms.
—see also glow-worm , silkworm , woodworm
4.
[ C ] ( computing ) a computer program that is a type of virus and that spreads across a network by copying itself
5.
[ C , usually sing. ] ( informal , disapproving ) a person you do not like or respect, especially because they have a weak character and do not behave well towards other people
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IDIOMS
- the worm will turn
—more at can (II) noun , early adjective
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
[+ adv. / prep. ] worm your way to use a twisting and turning movement, especially to move through a narrow or crowded place :
She wormed her way through the crowd to the reception desk.
2.
to give an animal medicine that makes worms pass out of its body in the faeces
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PHRASAL VERBS
- worm your way / yourself into sth
- worm sth out of sb
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English wyrm (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Latin vermis worm and Greek rhomox woodworm.