earthworm

[ urth-wurm ]

noun

any one of numerous annelid worms that burrow in soil and feed on soil nutrients and decaying organic matter.
Archaic. a mean or groveling person.

Origin of earthworm

First recorded in 1400–50, earthworm is from the late Middle English word ertheworm.See earth, worm

regional variation note For earthworm

The earthworm, a commonly used bait for angling, is also called an angleworm in the Northern U.S. and a fishworm in the Northern and Midland U.S. and in New England. It is called a fishing worm in parts of the Midland and Southern U.S., and a wiggler in the Southern U.S.
Because the worm often comes to the surface of the earth when the ground is cool or wet, it is also called a nightwalker in New England, a nightcrawler, chiefly in the Northern, North Midland, and Western U.S., and a dew worm, chiefly in the Inland North and Canada. It is also called a red worm in the North Central, South Midland, and Southern U.S.

Words Nearby earthworm

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use earthworm in a sentence

They evolved to specialize on earthworms, fishes, frogs, slugs, eels—even other snakes.
After the dinosaurs, Earth became an all-you-can-eat buffet for snakes | Kate Baggaley | October 15, 2021 | Popular-Science
Wriggling in the exposed dirt are several soil-enriching earthworms.
A recipe for fighting climate change and feeding the world | Sarah Kaplan | October 12, 2021 | Washington Post
The earthworms already in your yard will naturally gravitate to it.
Best compost bins: These eco-friendly products help you to do your part for the environment | Florie Korani | July 20, 2021 | Popular-Science
These jumping earthworms, which came from Asia, are known for their wild thrashing behavior.
Jumping ‘snake worms’ are invading U.S. forests | Megan Sever | November 9, 2020 | Science News For Students
Jumping worms also consume more nutrients than other earthworms, turning soil into dry granular pellets that resemble coffee grounds or ground beef — Henshue calls it “taco meat.”
Invasive jumping worms damage U.S. soil and threaten forests | Megan Sever | September 29, 2020 | Science News

Rossellini enthusiastically acts out various sex acts while costumed as an earthworm, a spider, a bee, and other invertebrates.
Isabella Does Bug Porn | Will Doig | October 31, 2008 | THE DAILY BEAST
He ate the slugs eagerly and seemed to enjoy tugging at wriggling bits of earthworm.
Birds and All Nature, Vol. VI, No. 3, October 1899 | Various
The earthworm, the cockroach, and the bed-bug are regarded as peculiarly disgusting, and all have a particularly offensive odour.
The Sexual Life of the Child | Albert Moll
It is of a greyish-red colour and in size and general appearance like the common earthworm.
Cooley's Cyclopdia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades..., Sixth Edition, Volume I | Arnold Cooley
The robin hears the earthworm burrowing his course under the ground; the bloodhound follows a scent that is two days old.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete | Albert Bigelow Paine
They seemed to be truly amphibious animals while I felt very much of an earthworm.
Vacation with the Tucker Twins | Nell Speed

British Dictionary definitions for earthworm

earthworm

/ (ˈɜːθˌwɜːm) /

noun

any of numerous oligochaete worms of the genera Lumbricus, Allolobophora, Eisenia, etc, which burrow in the soil and help aerate and break up the ground: Related adjective: lumbricoid

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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