roundworm

noun

round·​worm ˈrau̇nd-ˌwərm How to pronounce roundworm (audio)
: nematode
also : a related round-bodied unsegmented worm (such as a spiny-headed worm) as distinguished from a flatworm

Examples of roundworm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Flatworms and roundworms, two phyla with more than 20,000 species each, have no emoji at all. Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2023 Subsequent examination determined the roundworm was Ophidascaris robertsi based on its red color and morphological features. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 28 Aug. 2023 The same held true for the T-maze experiments under normal conditions, i.e., roundworms that had not been dosed with anandamide. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 20 Apr. 2023 Kaplan, a professor of parasitology and himself a victim of amebic dysentery and 8-inch roundworms, gives a raucous crash course that blends surprising biology with macabre stories. Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 6 May 2023 When a nematode wriggles around a petri dish, what’s going on inside a tiny roundworm’s even tinier brain? Lauren Leffer, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2023 Now these roundworms are the subject of more research, which posits that one of these nematode varieties represents a new species, dubbed Panagrolaimus kolymaensis for the Kolyma River where they were found. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 27 July 2023 Previous research on roundworms edited two cell pathways to extend their lifespans by 500 percent. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Nov. 2023 These include mange, leptospirosis, roundworm, and rabies. Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 17 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'roundworm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1558, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of roundworm was in 1558

Dictionary Entries Near roundworm

Cite this Entry

“Roundworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roundworm. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

roundworm

noun
round·​worm ˈrau̇n-ˌdwərm How to pronounce roundworm (audio)
: a nematode worm (as a hookworm)
also : a related round-bodied worm without segments as compared to a flatworm

Medical Definition

roundworm

noun
round·​worm ˈrau̇n-ˌdwərm How to pronounce roundworm (audio)
: nematode
also : a related round-bodied unsegmented worm (as an acanthocephalan) as distinguished from a flatworm

More from Merriam-Webster on roundworm

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