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brainworm

American  
[breyn-wurm] / ˈbreɪnˌwɜrm /

noun

  1. a microscopic, parasitic roundworm that infests the brain of large hoofed animals, as deer.

Etymology

Origin of brainworm

1800–10

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Isle Royale has no deer, so its moose aren’t exposed to brainworm, a deadly parasite that deer carry.

From Washington Post • Nov. 27, 2021

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.