mealworm

[ meel-wurm ]

/ ˈmilˌwɜrm /

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noun

the larva of any of several darkling beetles of the genus Tenebrio, which infests granaries and is used as food for birds and animals.

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Origin of mealworm

First recorded in 1650–60; meal² + worm

Words nearby mealworm

mealies, meal moth, meals on wheels, meal ticket, mealtime, mealworm, mealy, mealybug, mealy-mouthed, mean, mean anomaly

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use mealworm in a sentence

In some tests, the mealworm moves behind an obstacle and then speeds up or slows down.
Here’s what bats ‘see’ when they explore the world with sound|Carolyn Wilke|October 29, 2020|Science News For Students
They seem to direct their calls based on the path they expect the mealworm to take.
Here’s what bats ‘see’ when they explore the world with sound|Carolyn Wilke|October 29, 2020|Science News For Students
They seem to be updating their mental model on how the mealworm is moving.
Here’s what bats ‘see’ when they explore the world with sound|Carolyn Wilke|October 29, 2020|Science News For Students
This allows her to track how successful the bats are at grabbing the mealworms.
Here’s what bats ‘see’ when they explore the world with sound|Carolyn Wilke|October 29, 2020|Science News For Students

In their experiments, the bats echolocate toward a moving mealworm.
Here’s what bats ‘see’ when they explore the world with sound|Carolyn Wilke|October 29, 2020|Science News For Students

British Dictionary definitions for mealworm

mealworm

/ (ˈmiːlˌwɜːm) /

noun

the larva of various beetles of the genus Tenebrio, esp T. molitor, feeding on meal, flour, and similar stored foods: family Tenebrionidae

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