# nematodes

/ˈnɛməˌtoʊdz/ (US) · /nˈɛmɐtˌəʊdz/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nematodes
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

very small, thin worms that live in soil, water, plants, and animals. Some help break down dead matter, while others can harm crops or make people and animals sick.

For teachers: elongate, unsegmented roundworms of the phylum Nematoda, occurring as free-living forms in soil and water and as parasites of plants and animals.

## Examples

- Nematodes live in the soil under these plants.
- The farmer tests the soil for nematodes that damage potato roots and reduce the harvest.
- Although invisible to the naked eye, soil nematodes shape entire ecosystems, cycling nutrients between microbes and plants while certain parasitic species threaten global crop yields.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.