worm

Everyday

1. A worm is a small animal with a long, soft, thin body and no legs or backbone, like an earthworm. tree →
2. Worms are also tiny animals that can live inside people or pets and make them ill. tree →
3. To worm your way means to move slowly through a tight place, or to get something by being sneaky. tree →
4. To worm a pet means to give it medicine to kill worms. tree →
5. In old folk tales, a worm can also be a huge dragon-like monster. tree →

In the lessons

In science, earthworms are invertebrates that live in soil; they mix and loosen the soil and help plants grow, and birds eat them. They come up after rain. In gardening, worms are friends of plants; a wormery turns food scraps into compost. In pet care, cats and dogs need worming medicine regularly, and you wash hands after touching pets or soil. In stories, «The early bird catches the worm» means getting up early helps you succeed. A «bookworm» loves reading.

Examples

• The blackbird pulled a worm out of the lawn. tree →
• Earthworms help keep soil healthy. tree →
• Lots of worms come up after it rains. tree →
• We need to worm the dog this month. tree →
• Wash your hands after digging for worms. tree →
• My sister is a real bookworm. tree →
• The early bird catches the worm. tree →
• A silkworm is really a caterpillar. tree →
• Then said the Laidly Worm again: tree →

Note

Countable: a worm, worms. Myth: if you cut an earthworm in half, both halves become two worms — not true; usually only the head end may survive. Worms are not insects (no legs, no six legs). Many animals called worms (silkworm, mealworm) are actually caterpillars or larvae.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah worms ruin manna kept overnight, and eat vines. In Job and the psalms the worm is also a picture of how small and weak people are, and worms cover the dead in the dust.

Interpretation. Tradition reads the rotting manna as a lesson: trust God for each day's food and do not hoard. Calling a person a worm is read as humility before God.

Examples

• And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade; and it did not rot, neither was there any worm therein. (Torah EXO.16.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thou shalt plant vineyards and dress them, but thou shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worm shall eat them. (Torah DEU.28.39, JPS 1917) tree →
• Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and rotted; and Moses was wroth with them. (Torah EXO.16.20, JPS 1917) tree →
• He spoke, and the locust came, and the canker-worm without number, (Writings PSA.105.34, JPS 1917) tree →
• They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them. (Writings JOB.21.26, JPS 1917) tree →
• How much less man, that is a worm! and the son of man, that is a maggot! (Writings JOB.25.6, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: a worm, worms. Myth: if you cut an earthworm in half, both halves become two worms — not true; usually only the head end may survive. Worms are not insects (no legs, no six legs). Many animals called worms (silkworm, mealworm) are actually caterpillars or larvae.