palolo worm

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noun

a polychaete worm, Eunice viridis, that lives in burrows among the coral reefs of several South Pacific islands, producing sperm or eggs in posterior segments that are cast off periodically in enormous numbers.

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Origin of palolo worm

First recorded in 1890–95

Words nearby palolo worm

palmy, Palmyra, Palo Alto, palo cortado, palolo, palolo worm, Paloma, Palomar, Palomar Observatory, palometa, palomino

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use palolo worm in a sentence

And the other is what is called a horsehair worm that overtakes the bodies of insects.
Vampires without Glitter or Girl Problems: Inside Guillermo del Toro’s ‘The Strain’|Andrew Romano|July 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Who knew, by the way, that The Carter Center has wiped out guinea worm just about everywhere in Africa but South Sudan?
Don’t Run for President, Hillary. Become a ‘Post-President’ Instead|Tina Brown|May 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So, Grey Worm arms the slaves of Meereen, who outnumber the citizens three-to-one.
Game of Thrones’ ‘Oathkeeper’: Joffrey’s Killer Revealed, White Walkers, and A New Jaime Lannister|Marlow Stern|April 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If you like mammal species from the suborder Vermilingua (meaning "worm tongue")...
The March Madness Teams to Cheer If Yours Got Bounced|Ben Teitelbaum|March 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It appeared The Worm had turned, even though his ignorance remained wrong side up.
Ping-Pong Diplomacy Not An Option? Try Ding-Dong Diplomacy|Kevin Bleyer|January 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Although everybody laughed at such a notion, the Worm-eating Warbler declared that he had a right to his own belief.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
It was no worm that Mrs. Robin had found, but Grandfather Mole's hairless tail sticking out of the ground.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
For Mrs. Robin had an end of a pinkish-white worm in her bill, on which she was tugging as hard as she could.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
When he was interviewed, fearsome in manner as he was, he sent the worm away packed with ideas and phrases.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
It also has an enemy, a small worm that forms in its body and gradually eats it up.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade

British Dictionary definitions for palolo worm

palolo worm

/ (pəˈləʊləʊ) /

noun

any of several polychaete worms of the family Eunicidae, esp Eunice viridis, of the S Pacific Ocean: reproductive segments are shed from the posterior end of the body when breeding

Word Origin for palolo worm

C20 palolo, from Samoan or Tongan

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