worm

worm
I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Old English wyrm serpent, worm; akin to Old High German wurm serpent, worm, Latin vermis worm Date: before 12th century 1. a. earthworm; broadly an annelid worm b. any of numerous relatively small elongated usually naked and soft-bodied animals (as a grub, pinworm, tapeworm, shipworm, or slowworm) 2. a. a human being who is an object of contempt, loathing, or pity ; wretch b. something that torments or devours from within 3. archaic snake, serpent 4. helminthiasis — usually used in plural 5. something (as a mechanical device) spiral or vermiculate in form or appearance: as a. the thread of a screw b. a short revolving screw whose threads gear with the teeth of a worm wheel or a rack c. Archimedes' screw; also a conveyor working on the principle of such a screw 6. a usually small self-contained and self-replicating computer program that invades computers on a network and usually performs a destructive action • wormlike adjective II. verb Date: 1610 intransitive verb to move or proceed sinuously or insidiously transitive verb 1. a. to proceed or make (one's way) insidiously or deviously <
worm their way into positions of power — Bill Franzen
>
b. to insinuate or introduce (oneself) by devious or subtle means c. to cause to move or proceed in or as if in the manner of a worm 2. to wind rope or yarn spirally round and between the strands of (a cable or rope) before serving 3. to obtain or extract by artful or insidious questioning or by pleading, asking, or persuading — usually used with out of <
finally wormed the truth out of him
>
4. to treat (an animal) with a drug to destroy or expel parasitic worms

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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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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