earthworm

American  

[urth-wurm] / ˈɜrθˌwɜrm /

noun

1. any one of numerous annelid worms that burrow in soil and feed on soil nutrients and decaying organic matter.

2. Archaic. a mean or groveling person.

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earthworm British  

/ ˈɜːθˌwɜːm /

noun

1. 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

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Regionalisms

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.

Etymology

Origin of earthworm

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

Explanation

An earthworm is a small, legless, tube-shaped animal that lives in soil. Gardeners are familiar with earthworms, which are common in healthy garden dirt. Earthworms are not only happy to burrow in the dirt of your garden, they're also incredibly useful — they improve the fertility of soil by converting its organic matter to humus, which helps plants grow. The burrowing of an earthworm is also good for the soil's structure, introducing small tunnels that allow it to drain and air to circulate throughout. They may not be pretty, but earthworms are very helpful.

Example Sentences

Earthworm robots typically have pumps or other systems for movement that add to their bulk.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2023

The intake team can see 50 to 80 animals a day this time of year, so they keep baby-name books handy for the nameless, though it’s hard to imagine one that would recommend Earthworm.

From Washington Post • Aug. 14, 2021

Earthworm castings, by the way, “are basically the poop of the red wriggler worms, the good guys in our garden,” Trigo said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2021

The dude-with-a-tude’s impact spawned all sorts of offbeat video game characters, from Crash Bandicoot and Earthworm Jim to Bubsy, Conker the Squirrel and Rayman.

From Time • Jun. 30, 2017

“Then eat the Earthworm first!” shouted the Centipede.

From "James and the Giant Peach" by Roald Dahl