worm

[[t]wɜrm[/t]]

n.

1) zool. any of numerous long, slender, soft-bodied, legless, bilaterally symmetrical invertebrates, including the roundworms, platyhelminths, acanthocephalans, nemerteans, horsehair worms, and annelids

2) zool. (loosely) any of numerous small creeping animals with more or less slender, elongated bodies, and without limbs or with very short ones

3) something resembling or suggesting a worm in appearance, movement, etc

4) inf a groveling, abject, or contemptible person

5) mac the thread of a screw

6) mac a rotating cylinder or shaft, cut with one or more helical threads, that engages with and drives a worm gear

7) something that penetrates, injures, or consumes slowly or insidiously

8) pat vet worms, (used with a sing. v.) any disease or disorder arising from the presence of parasitic worms in the intestines or other tissues; helminthiasis

9) zool. the lytta of a dog or other carnivorous animal

10) cmp computer code planted illegally in a software program so as to destroy data in any system that downloads the program, as by reformatting the hard disk

11) to move or act like a worm; creep, crawl, or advance slowly, stealthily, or insidiously

12) to cause to move in a devious or stealthy manner:

a thief worming his hand into a coat pocket[/ex]

13) to get by persistent, insidious efforts (usu. fol. by out or from):

to worm a secret out of someone[/ex]

14) to insinuate (oneself or one's way) into another's favor, confidence, etc.:

He wormed his way into the king's favor[/ex]

15) to free from worms:

to worm puppies[/ex]

16) naut. Naut. to wind yarn or the like spirally round (a rope) so as to fill the spaces between the strands and render the surface smooth

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Etymology: bef. 900; ME; OE wyrm dragon, serpent, worm, c. OOHG wurm, ON ormr, Go waurms; akin to L vermis worm′er, n.