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ringworm

[ ring-wurm ]
/ ˈrɪŋˌwɜrm /
|

noun Pathology.

any of a number of contagious skin diseases caused by certain parasitic fungi and characterized by the formation of ring-shaped eruptive patches.

Nearby words

  1. ringtail monkey,
  2. ringtone,
  3. ringtoss,
  4. ringwomb,
  5. ringwood,
  6. rink,
  7. rink rat,
  8. rinkhals,
  9. rinky-dink,
  10. rinky-tink

Origin of ringworm

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at ring1, worm
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ringworm

British Dictionary definitions for ringworm

ringworm

/ (ˈrɪŋˌwɜːm) /

noun

any of various fungal infections of the skin (esp the scalp) or nails, often appearing as itching circular patchesAlso called: tinea
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

Word Origin and History for ringworm

ringworm

n.

name given to certain skin diseases, early 15c., from ring (n.1) + worm (n.).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for ringworm

ringworm

[ rĭng′wûrm′ ]

n.

tinea
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science definitions for ringworm

ringworm

[ rĭng′wûrm′ ]

Any of a number of contagious fungal infections of the skin, hair, or nails caused chiefly by species of the genera Microsporum, Trichophyton, and Epidermophyton. Ringworm often causes scaly, itching ring-shaped patches, especially on the skin. Also called tinea
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.