wormlike Definition

worm
noun

1. zool.
Any member of several unrelated groups of small soft-bodied limbless invertebrates that are characteristically long and slender, either cylindrical and segmented (eg the earthworm) or flat (eg the tapeworm).
2. Any superficially similar but unrelated animal, eg the larva of certain insects.
3. A maggot or worm thought to devour dead bodies in the grave.
4. A mean, contemptible, weak or worthless person.
5. mech.
The spiral thread of a screw.
6. Anything that corrupts, gnaws or torments.
7. pathol.
Any disease characterized by the presence of parasitic worms in the intestines of humans or animals.
Form: worms
8. computing.
An unauthorized computer program, differing from a virus in that it is an independent program rather than a piece of coding, designed to sabotage a computer system, especially by reproducing itself throughout a computer network.

verb wormed, worming

1. To move or crawl like a worm.
2. To extract (information, etc) little by little.

Example: wormed the secret out of them
Form: worm something out (also)
3. To treat (an animal that has worms) especially to rid it of these.
4. To rid (a plant) of worms.

Derivative: wormer
noun

Derivative: wormlike
adj

Idiom: worm one's way

To wriggle or manoeuvre oneself gradually.
Example: wormed their way to the front
Thesaurus: sidle, sneak, inch, crawl.

Idiom: worm one's way into something

To insinuate oneself into someone's favour or affections, etc.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon wyrm.