tapeworm

[teyp-wurm] /ˈteɪpˌwɜrm/

noun

any of various flat or tapelike worms of the class Cestoidea, lacking an alimentary canal, and parasitic when adult in the alimentary canal of humans and other vertebrates: the larval and adult stages are usually in different hosts.

Origin

1745-55; tape + worm

Examples from the web for tapeworm

Doctors successfully treat tapeworm infections with medicines.

British Dictionary definitions for tapeworm

tapeworm

/ˈteɪpˌwɜːm/

noun

any parasitic ribbon-like flatworm of the class Cestoda, having a body divided into many egg-producing segments and lacking a mouth and gut. The adults inhabit the intestines of vertebrates See also echinococcus, taenia

Word Origin and History for tapeworm

1752, from tape (n.) + worm (n.); so called for its flat, ribbon-like shape.

tapeworm in Medicine

tapeworm tape·worm (tāp'wûrm')
n.
Any of various ribbonlike, often very long flatworms of the class Cestoda, that lack an alimentary canal and are intestinal parasitic in humans.

tapeworm in Science

tapeworm

(tāp'wûrm')
See cestode.

tapeworm in Culture

tapeworm definition

A worm with a long, flat body that can live in the human intestines as a parasite. Infestation with a tapeworm usually occurs as the result of eating raw meat or fish that contains the immature form of the worm.