# worm

/ˈwɝm/ (US) · /wˈɜːm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/worm
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. computing

noun · CEFR B2

a harmful computer program that copies itself and spreads through a network.

For teachers: a self-replicating malware program that uses a computer network to send copies of itself to other nodes, often without human intervention.

- The office network slowed down because a worm was spreading through the emails.
- The security team identified a sophisticated worm that exploited a vulnerability in the server's operating system to bypass the firewall.

### 3. a person

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a person who is weak or dishonest and does not deserve respect.

For teachers: a contemptible, weak, or untrustworthy person. Informal and derogatory in register.

- He was such a worm that he blamed his own mistake on his assistant.
- The antagonist was portrayed as a snivelling worm who would betray his closest allies to save his own skin.

### 4. to move like a worm

verb · CEFR B2

to move your body along the ground or through a small space.

For teachers: to move with a crawling or sinuous motion, often by dragging the body along a surface.

- The soldier had to worm his way through the narrow tunnel to reach the other side.
- The explorer managed to worm through the tight crevice in the rock face, eventually emerging into a hidden cavern.

### 5. to get information

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to get information from someone who does not want to tell you.

For teachers: to elicit information from a reluctant source through persistent questioning or artful persuasion. Often used in the phrase 'worm something out of someone'.

- It took hours, but she finally managed to worm the secret out of him.
- The journalist spent weeks building rapport with the whistleblower, eventually worming the location of the documents out of him.

## Examples

- The bird pulled a long worm out of the grass.
- After the heavy rain, dozens of worms appeared on the sidewalk near the garden.
- The security team worked through the night to isolate the worm before it could compromise the sensitive data stored on the main server.

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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.