wormhole

[wurm-hohl]

noun

1. a hole made by a burrowing or gnawing worm, as in timber, nuts, etc.

2. a theoretical passageway in space between a black hole and a white hole.

wormhole

/ ˈwɜːmˌhəʊl /

noun

1. a hole made by a worm in timber, plants, etc

2. physics a tunnel in the geometry of space–time postulated to connect different parts of the universe

wormhole

1. A hole made by a burrowing worm.

2. A theoretical distortion of space-time that would link points in space through a second set of paths, some of which could be shorter than the shortest path without the wormhole. It is not known whether workholes are possible.

3. See more at space-time

Other Word Forms

• wormholed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wormhole¹

First recorded in 1585–95; worm + hole

Example Sentences

It’s one thing to become transfixed by a fictional character going down a scripted wormhole for the purposes of narrative enlightenment or comedy.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

From cats and cucumbers to pimple popping and unboxings, the internet is awash with a vast array of videos to send people into a social media wormhole.

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Surprise lurks around every corner and in every online wormhole.

Read more on New York Times

The Hotline loves alternative history — as noted on the podcast, I could ride the wormhole all the way back to the South winning Gettysburg.

Read more on Seattle Times

And to make matters worse, it’s disappeared, possibly into a wormhole.

Read more on New York Times

Related Words

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