earthworm

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English

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An earthworm

Etymology

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From Middle English erthe-worm, erþe-worm, erþe worm (also as worm of þe erthe, worm of þe erþe), equivalent to earth +‎ worm. Compare Saterland Frisian Äidwurm (“earthworm”), West Frisian ierdwjirm (“earthworm”), Dutch aardworm (“earthworm”), less common German Erdwurm (“earthworm”).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈɜː(ɹ)θˌwɜː(ɹ)m/
  • Hyphenation: earth‧worm
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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earthworm (plural earthworms)

  1. A worm that lives in the ground.
    • 1880, Journal of Microscopy‎[1], volume 3:
      It does not, however, happen that the whole spermatosphere is converted into spermatoblasts; there remains a passive portion, which in the earthworm occupies a central position; this is the "sperm-blasophore," or "blastophoral cell."
  2. A worm of the family Lumbricidae, or, more generally, of the suborder Lumbricina.
    • 1975, Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History): Zoology, volume 26, page 205:
      Before the study was begun, the known oligochaete fauna of Tasmania consisted of six species of aquatic microdriles, twenty-three indigenous species of megascolecid earthworms, and introduced earthworms of the family Lumbricidae.
  3. (figurative) A contemptible person; a groveller.

Synonyms

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Translations

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References

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Anagrams

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