flatworm

Everyday

A simple soft worm with a flat body and no legs; many live in water or damp places, and some are parasites that live inside other animals. tree →

In the lessons

In science, flatworms are among the simplest animals with a head and tail; planarian flatworms can regrow lost parts. Some flatworms, like tapeworms, live in animals' guts, which is why pets get worming tablets. In New Zealand and the UK, garden flatworms can harm earthworms. Phrases: «planarian flatworm», «parasitic flatworm».

Examples

• A flatworm glided across the bottom of the pond. tree →
• Flatworms have soft, flat bodies. tree →
• Some flatworms can regrow if cut in half. tree →
• The tapeworm is a kind of flatworm that lives inside animals. tree →
• We found a flatworm under a damp rock. tree →
• Bright sea flatworms look like tiny ribbons. tree →

Note

Countable compound: flat + worm. Not all flatworms look like earthworms; earthworms are round and have segments, flatworms do not.