tapeworm

American  

[teyp-wurm] / ˈteɪpˌwɜrm /

noun

1. any of various flat or tapelike worms of the class Cestoidea, lacking an alimentary canal, and parasitic when adult in the alimentary canal of humans and other vertebrates: the larval and adult stages are usually in different hosts.

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tapeworm British  

/ ˈteɪpˌwɜːm /

noun

1. any parasitic ribbon-like flatworm of the class Cestoda, having a body divided into many egg-producing segments and lacking a mouth and gut. The adults inhabit the intestines of vertebrates See also echinococcus taenia

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tapeworm Scientific  

/ tāp′wûrm′ /

1. See cestode

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tapeworm Cultural  

1. A worm with a long, flat body that can live in the human intestines as a parasite. Infestation with a tapeworm usually occurs as the result of eating raw meat or fish that contains the immature form of the worm.

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Etymology

Origin of tapeworm

First recorded in 1745–55; tape + worm

Example Sentences

In contrast, large urban centers like London and York show a wider range of parasites, including fish and meat tapeworms.

From Science Daily

However, parasite cleanses typically promise to purge the body of intestinal parasites such as tapeworms.

From Salon

Can you explain how and why you came up with the eyelash sequence, which you shot in excruciating close-up, and the truly disgusting tapeworm?

From Salon

A Norwegian body horror film shot in Norway, Poland, Sweden and Denmark, "The Ugly Stepsister" is uterly void of cartoon whimsy and helpful, singing mice, but it does have plenty of tapeworms and maggots.

From Salon

Mosley has often pushed his body to extreme lengths to see the effects of his diets and also lived with tapeworms in his guts for six weeks for the BBC documentary “Infested! Living With Parasites.”

From Seattle Times