tubifex

American  

[too-buh-feks, tyoo-] / ˈtu bəˌfɛks, ˈtyu- /

noun

PLURAL

tubifexes

PLURAL

tubifex

1. any common, bottom-dwelling worm of the genus Tubifex, often used as food for aquarium fish.

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tubifex British  

/ ˈtjuːbɪˌfɛks /

noun

1. any small reddish freshwater oligochaete worm of the genus Tubifex ; it characteristically lives in a tube in sand and is used as food for aquarium fish

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Etymology

Origin of tubifex

< New Latin (1816); tubi-, -fex

Example Sentences

In 2002, in a stinky discharge basin behind a shopping mall prone to green algal blooms and crawling with brown rats and tubifex worms, he spotted a familiar green shoot.

From New York Times

The appearance was caused by thousands of little worms, belonging to the genus Tubifex, not uncommon in such situations, who thrust themselves out to enjoy the light and air, and retreat the moment an alarm is given.

From Project Gutenberg

T. ignotum, with eight spores, from Tubifex tubifex, and also from an unspecified Tubificid; another sp., unnamed, with 32 sporozoites, also from T. t.

From Project Gutenberg

It is only after they have been ingested by inch-long Tubifex worms in the mud that the parasites become dangerous.

From Time Magazine Archive

This was Tubifex Worms�ordinary sewer-variety worms spiked with a tasty, Axelrod-discovered fish-blood extract, and dry-frozen.

From Time Magazine Archive