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Definition of earthworm

earthworm

/ˈɜːrθwɜːrm/
earth · worm
Plural:earthworms
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earthworm Lexical Profile

earthworm Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A burrowing annelid worm that lives in the soil, playing a crucial ecological role in aerating and enriching the earth through its tunneling and feeding.

Example

"After the heavy spring rain, dozens of earthworms surfaced on the damp pavement."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for earthworm

• Nearby Words

earthflax
earthnut pea
earthwax
earthworm
earwax
earwig
eas a chual aluinn

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'erthewurm', a compound of 'erthe' (earth, soil) and 'wurm' (worm, creeping animal), coined to describe their terrestrial habitat as opposed to aquatic or parasitic worms.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Earthworm. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/earthworm
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