noun
worm
wurm
noun
1
A long, thin, legless invertebrate, such as an earthworm.
"After the rain, worms covered the sidewalk."
2
A self-replicating computer program that spreads across a network on its own.
"The worm infected thousands of computers within hours."
3
An insulting term for a contemptible or sneaky person.
"He called his ex a worm for lying to everyone."
verb
1
To move forward slowly by crawling or wriggling.
"She wormed her way through the crowd."
"He wormed his way into their trust over several months."
How to Use Worm
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small crawling invertebrate; also used for a self-spreading computer virus, or as an insult for a sneaky person.
Common pairings
worm your way in
computer worm
can of worms
Word Forms
wormed past tense, worms plural, Worms plural, worms singular
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Etymology
From Old English "wyrm," which could mean both "worm" and "snake" — a distant cousin of "vermin."