glowworm

[ gloh-wurm ]

/ ˈgloʊˌwɜrm /

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noun

the wingless female or larva of the European beetle, Lampyris noctiluca, which emits a sustained greenish light.

any of various other beetle larvae or wingless females that emit a glow rather than a flash of light.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

Origin of glowworm

1300–50; Middle English. See glow, worm

A glowworm is not discerned in the sunshine, though it glister in the dark.
A Christian Directory (Volume 1 of 4)|Richard Baxter
Every body probably knows, that the male glowworm is a winged, erratic animal, yet may not have seen him.
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 13, No. 361, Supplementary Issue (1829)|Various
Should the sun beg from the glowworm, and should the momentary spark excite the envy of the source of light?
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 6 (of 12)|Robert G. Ingersoll
She looked down the dusky lanes, where glowworm lanterns began to bob and wink.
Dragon's blood|Henry Milner Rideout

With a slim rubber band he fastened a match across the double barrels at the front sight and beneath this placed a glowworm.
The Three Sapphires|W. A. Fraser

glow-worm

noun

a European beetle, Lampyris noctiluca, the females and larvae of which bear luminescent organs producing a greenish light: family Lampyridae

any of various other beetles or larvae of the family Lampyridae