ringworm

[ ring-wurm ]

/ ˈrɪŋˌwɜrm /

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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.

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Origin of ringworm

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at ring¹, worm

Words nearby ringworm

ringtoss, ring true, ring up, ringwomb, Ringwood, ringworm, rink, rinkhals, rink rat, rinky-dink, rinky-tink

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

How to use ringworm in a sentence

How would you exclude ringworm in a suspected case of eczema?
Essentials of Diseases of the Skin|Henry Weightman Stelwagon
Describe the appearances of a typical patch of ringworm of the scalp.
Essentials of Diseases of the Skin|Henry Weightman Stelwagon
Does ringworm of the scalp always present typical appearances?
Essentials of Diseases of the Skin|Henry Weightman Stelwagon
Describe the symptoms of ringworm as it occurs upon the scalp.
Essentials of Diseases of the Skin|Henry Weightman Stelwagon

Ringworm of the face, taken early, is helped by carefully painting with tincture of iodine.
The Mother and Her Child|William S. Sadler

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

Medical definitions for ringworm

ringworm

[ rĭng′wûrm′ ]

tinea

Scientific 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