Wormed

WORM

abbr.

Computer Science write once, read many

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worm  (wûrm)

n.

1. Any of various invertebrates, as those of the phyla Annelida, Nematoda, Nemertea, or Platyhelminthes, having a long, flexible, rounded or flattened body, often without obvious appendages.

2. Any of various crawling insect larvae, such as a grub or a caterpillar, having a soft elongated body.

3. Any of various unrelated animals, such as the shipworm or the slowworm, resembling a worm in habit or appearance.

4.

a. Something, such as the thread of a screw or the spiral condenser in a still, that resembles a worm in form or appearance.

b. The spirally threaded shaft of a worm gear.

5. An insidiously tormenting or devouring force: "felt the black worm of treachery growing in his heart" (Mario Puzo).

6. A person regarded as pitiable or contemptible.

7. worms Pathology Infestation of the intestines or other parts of the body with worms or wormlike parasites; helminthiasis.

8. Computer Science A malicious program that replicates itself until it fills all of the storage space on a drive or network.

v. wormed, worm·ing, worms

v.tr.

1. To make (one's way) with or as if with the sinuous crawling motion of a worm.

2. To work (one's way or oneself) subtly or gradually; insinuate: She wormed her way into his confidence.

3. To elicit by artful or devious means. Usually used with out of: wormed a confession out of the suspect.

4. To cure of intestinal worms.

5. Nautical To wrap yarn or twine spirally around (rope).

v.intr.

1. To move in a manner suggestive of a worm.

2. To make one's way by artful or devious means: He can't worm out of this situation.

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[Middle English, from Old English wurm, variant of wyrm; see wer-² in Indo-European roots.]