ringworm

[ ring-wurm ]

nounPathology.
  1. 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

1
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English; ring1 + worm

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How to use ringworm in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ringworm

ringworm

/ (ˈrɪŋˌwɜːm) /


noun
  1. any of various fungal infections of the skin (esp the scalp) or nails, often appearing as itching circular patches: Also 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

Scientific definitions for ringworm

ringworm

[ rĭngwûrm′ ]


  1. 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

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